Arctic air is poised to sweep across the country just as families and friends take to the roads and skies to gather for Thanksgiving. Already feeling cold in parts of the Rocky Mountains and Plains, the drop in temperatures is pushing south and east into the middle of the week.
While this cold snap won’t be the most dramatic of the season, it will be a big change from the short-sleeved and sweater weather that millions of Americans across the country have been enjoying heading into the holiday week. Temperatures are expected to be 10 to 25 degrees below normal by Thursday in much of the eastern United States. High temperatures in the 20s to 30s are expected in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes on Thanksgiving, and even some southern cities will see frost or ice by Friday morning.
As the temperature changes, the wind gets stronger and it feels even colder. Temperatures are expected to reach the single digits in parts of the Northern Plains, forcing parade participants to gather on Thanksgiving morning in New York City despite clear skies.
In Chicago, wind gusts up to 35 mph can make even a high of 30 degrees feel like 20 degrees. Leftovers in the fridge may be warmer than when your guests get home from vacation.
Lake-effect snow is possible in parts of the Great Lakes Wednesday and Thursday as cold air moves over warm lake waters. Narrow snow bands can make localized movement difficult.
Further south, temperatures will be less severe but will still attract attention. High pressure in the 50s will extend from north Texas to the Tennessee Valley and the Carolinas. This will feel like quite a shock compared to last week, when high temperatures were in the 70s and 80s in many of these areas.
Temperatures in New York City are expected to drop into the 40s late Wednesday, with strong northwesterly winds expected to continue through Thanksgiving morning.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will have crowds shivering due to blustery weather. Wind chill temperatures will remain in the 30s. Wind gusts could reach 20 to 30 miles per hour. This is below the standard for grounding large character balloons, but the handler may need to keep a tighter grip.
At least for the crowds lining the parade route, the weather should remain dry and the sun peeking through.
Cold air will reach deep into the South by Friday morning. Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis and parts of Mississippi and the Carolinas could experience freezing, or at least severe frost. People with outdoor pipes or sensitive plants should plan ahead. Even Gulf Coast cities will be in the 40s.
A second, stronger push of arctic air could occur over the Thanksgiving weekend or early next week. As a result, parts of the Rocky Mountains, Plains, and Midwest could experience below-normal temperatures again starting in December.
