First Snow Of The Season For Parts Of The Midwest, Northeast As November Reality Check Arrives

T​he first snow of the season is expected in parts of the Midwest and Northeast as a November reality check pattern change sweeps cold air as far south as Texas and Florida.

Snow setup: Another potent storm is developing near the Great Lakes and Northeast. This storm could sit and spin through Friday or Saturday, with strong winds, raw, cold air, rain, and even some wet snow.

A​nd while colder air moving in is only marginally cold, we do expect pockets of wet snow that could lead to some impacts.

T​he National Weather Service has issued various winter weather alerts for snow from the Great Lakes to the Appalachians and interior Northeast.

I​n general, any snow that falls in the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley will do so through Thursday night. Any that falls in the East will do so from later Thursday into Friday night or Saturday.

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How much snow: We don't expect widespread heavy accumulations. However, the higher elevations of the Appalachians from West Virginia into southwest Pennsylvania, as well as the Poconos, Catskills and Adirondacks could pick up 6 inches or more of heavy, wet snow.

T​he weight of this snow plus strong winds could lead to some tree damage and power outages in those areas.

O​therwise, some slushy amounts of a few inches are possible from the Great Lakes into the Ohio Valley and lower elevations of the interior Northeast. Most of these accumulations will be on grassy areas and vehicle tops, unless the snow comes in a quick burst or shower, which could coat some bridges and untreated roads.

For some, this will be their first accumulation of the season, including Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh. As it turns out, mid-November is about the average first measurable snowfall of the season in both Chicago and Pittsburgh.

(​MORE: When The First Snow Typically Arrives)

T​hey'll get it from this storm.

M​ost of the I-95 corridor from Philly north is expected to pick up at least an inch of rain through the weekend. Most of that will happen through Thursday, though some showers are possible Friday into Saturday, as well.

C​older, finally: It hasn't felt like winter is around the corner in the South recently. Instead, the region saw its warmest first two weeks of any November on record for dozens of cities from Texas to Florida to the southern Appalachians, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

A​nd that's where the coming reality check will be felt most.

T​his colder air should quickly spill over the rest of the South, lower Midwest and East Thursday. It will likely hang in over the Southeast through the weekend.

W​e have some sample forecast low temperatures in the map below. Lows in the 30s and 40s will be common in the South, possibly into parts of northern Florida. The Florida Peninsula may have some chilly mornings in the 40s and 50s. Meanwhile, highs in the 40s and a few 30s will be the rule in the Midwest and interior Northeast through the end of the week.

(​MAPS: 10-Day US Forecast Highs and Lows)

W​hy this pattern change: The short answer is the wind flow in the atmosphere is becoming temporarily clogged.

A​ bubble of high pressure aloft known as the Greenland block is acting as a temporary roadblock, forcing a deep low-pressure system to become stuck in place over the East.

T​hat's the reason this storm system and the cold air may last several days in the East.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.