Here Comes Coldest Air Of The Season

A cold outbreak will plunge into the U.S. this weekend and bring the coldest air of the season to the Midwest and Northeast, a freeze into the Deep South and even some of the season's first snow to parts of the Great Lakes.

When Will It Arrive

Here's a general timeline of when you can expect the cold air to arrive:

- Friday night - Saturday: Northern Plains and upper Midwest

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- Sunday: Plains as far south as Oklahoma, Tennessee Valley, rest of the Midwest, interior Northeast

- Monday: Most of the South including the northern Gulf Coast, northern Florida and East Coast

How Cold?

In most of the Midwest, South and East, these will be the coldest daytime temperatures of fall, so far.

This weekend, highs will be stuck in the 30s in the Northern Plains and western Great Lakes. On Monday, highs could be stuck in the 30s as far south as the Ohio Valley, and 40s will be as warm as it gets during the day from the Northeast's I-95 corridor as far south as Atlanta.

(MAPS: 10-Day US Forecast Highs/Lows)

Morning lows will plunge into the 20s as far south as the Deep South, and even some 30s in northern Florida by early next week. This will lead to a freeze into parts of the Deep South by Tuesday morning.

If that wasn't enough, strong winds in the wake of the cold front will send wind chills plummeting into the teens and 20s in the Midwest, parts of the Northeast and South, at times.

Some Fall Cold Tips

Given this sharply cold change after the recent warmth, here are some things you may want to keep in mind.

- Pull your winter jacket, hats and gloves from the back of the closet. You'll probably need them in this cold blast.

- Make sure the kids are dressed for the cold at any outdoor sports events or just going to school, especially waiting at the bus stop.

- If headed to any college or NFL games this weekend in the Midwest, you'll have to dress warmer than you have so far this season, especially in Chicago (Giants versus Bears) and Green Bay (Eagles versus Packers Monday night).

- If you have any yard work, you may want to get that done before this weekend, so you won't have to rake leaves in the wind and cold.

- Shut off your outside faucets and drain any garden hoses to avoid any freezing.

(MORE: What November Weather Is Typically Like)

First Snow?

Given how cold this blast will be, there is also a chance of some "first snow of the season" for some from the Northern Plains to the Great Lakes, Appalachians and northern New England.

This slushy, wet snow could start as soon as late Friday or Friday night in the Northern Plains.

Then, as cold air spills south, some bands of lake-effect snow could form in the Great Lakes by Sunday, potentially bringing some first snow of the season to parts of Michigan, northern Indiana, northern Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania and western and central New York Sunday into Monday.

Snow could also dust the Appalachians as far south as the Smoky Mountains, and several inches could accumulate in the Adirondacks of upstate New York and the high country of northern New England.

In many of these areas, roads could remain wet during the day, with most snow accumulating on grassy areas and the tops of vehicles. But these roads could become slick at night as temperatures plunge and any falling snow starts to accumulate on pavement.

(MORE: When You Typically See Your First Snow)

Fleeting Cold

If this kind of cold is too soon for you, we have some good news.

The cold won't last that long.

Milder air will quickly return to the nation's mid-section by the middle of next week.

However, the cold may be a bit more stubborn to leave the Northeast, as another reinforcing cold front sweeps out of Canada.

(MORE: November Outlook)

As a Midwest resident, I feel this November reality check almost every year. It's still hard to believe we're about three weeks from Thanksgiving, already.

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 Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.