The First Taste Of Fall Underway For Millions | Weather.com
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A refreshing blast of cooler air is sweeping across the Plains, Midwest, and parts of the South this week, giving millions a rare late-August taste of fall.

Jennifer Gray
ByJennifer GrayAugust 27, 2025

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A refreshing shot of cooler air is diving into the U.S. this week, delivering some of the coolest temperatures of the season for millions.

Who’s ready for hoodies and pumpkin everything? Folks in the Midwest, Plains, and even parts of the South are getting their first taste of crisp, fall-like air.

Records Already Set

Tuesday, at least 14 daily records for cool temperatures were tied or set from the Plains to the Ohio Valley.

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Among these included Kansas City (50 degrees), Springfield, Illinois (44 degrees), and Dayton, Ohio (48 degrees).

Thanks to clouds and rain, the high Tuesday in Oklahoma City only reached 68 degrees, their coolest August day in 32 years and a day more typical of late October than late August.

Here's a look at current temperatures:

The August Chill

Behind the front, cooler, drier air will sweep across a large portion of the country, including the Plains, Midwest, East, even parts of the South.

Wednesday: Temperatures will generally be 5-15 degrees below average from the central Plains to the East Coast, where highs in the 70s will be more numerous than 80s from Kansas and Oklahoma to the Northeast.

Late week: A fresh supply of cooler air will plunge into the Great Lakes and East Thursday into Friday. Highs in the Great Lakes will hold in the 60s, and 40s or low 50s can be expected in the Great Lakes and Northeast into Saturday morning.

How Long Could It Last?

Long-range outlooks suggest this general cooler pattern could hold beyond Labor Day from the central Plains to much of the Midwest and East.

cpc_0826.jpg

This map shows the temperature trend for September 1-5, which shows a large pool of cool air settled over much of the Plains, Midwest and even parts of the South.

(Data: NOAA/CPC)

This kind of late summer cool-down doesn’t come around often. If you can, open the windows, head outside, and enjoy the fresh air. It may not last long, but hopefully this little taste of fall will be a welcome treat for millions.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.

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