A weak cold front will cross the region today, reinforcing the chilly air across the Northeast US, with sub-zero wind chill values this evening and overnight for many. Danielle Noyes shares your latest Noyes’ Notes and 24 hour forecast. Read on for the National and Northeast weather summary and check back in for Insights later today.
The U.S. continues to experience notable cold across much of the central and eastern portions, while the West faces a shift in weather patterns. Arctic air remains entrenched over the Plains, Midwest, and Northeast, with temperatures ranging 10–20°F below seasonal averages. Record-breaking lows are possible across the Southeast, with lows dipping into the upper teens and 20s as far south as northern Florida. The ongoing cold has resulted in lingering hazards from the recent historic winter storm in parts of the Gulf Coast, where icy roads may impede travel through Friday.
Lake-effect snow persists across the Great Lakes region, with some favorable areas expected to receive accumulations of 3–6 inches through Friday. Snow bands will be heaviest east of Lakes Ontario and Michigan, prompting Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories in localized areas.
Out west, a significant shift occurs as an upper trough deepens along the Pacific Coast. Southern California faces an Elevated Fire Weather Outlook on Friday, driven by gusty offshore Santa Ana winds. However, rainfall returns by Saturday, raising the potential for debris flows over recent burn scars. Meanwhile, mountain snow will develop over the Rockies as colder air pushes southward through the weekend.
A cold and wintry pattern continues across the Northeast, but improving conditions are on the horizon heading into the weekend. A clipper system passing through the region will bring scattered snow showers to the interior and lake-effect snow to areas downwind of Lakes Ontario and Erie. Heaviest accumulations will remain localized, with the Tug Hill Plateau and parts of the Adirondacks seeing up to 6 inches by Friday evening. Meanwhile, most areas outside of these lake-effect snow zones will remain dry, albeit cold.
Temperatures remain well below average, with daytime highs in the 20s across most areas and teens in the northern mountains. Overnight lows will plummet into the single digits for many, with subzero readings likely in the Adirondacks and northern New England. Breezy northwest winds will add to the chill, producing wind chills in the single digits to below zero in some locations.
Looking ahead, a brief warming trend is expected this weekend, with temperatures recovering into the 30s in many areas by Sunday. This will be accompanied by increased clouds and a chance of light snow showers Saturday night into Sunday as another clipper system approaches. Beyond that, colder Arctic air is set to make a return early next week, bringing renewed frigid temperatures and the potential for snow squalls with a strong cold front.
