Below normal temperatures across much of Central and Eastern US

A cold front pushing across the Eastern US today will usher in winter like temperatures from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast and Mid Atlantic where temperatures could be as much as 11 °C (20 °F) below normal, NWS warns. Freeze watches are in effect for parts of the Mid Atlantic.

A southward dip in the jet stream is driving a cold front through the Midwest and Northeast, bringing a blast of arctic air which will last into the weekend. The front could bring some light rain or snow showers to parts of the Northeast through later this morning. Locally heavy snowfall is likely with lake effect snow bands across parts of Michigan with winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories in effect.

"The blast of winter-like temperatures first descended into the northern Plains Wednesday. Temperatures were stuck in the teens and 20s [F] in parts of the upper Midwest and northern Plains on Thursday," Weather Channels Brian Donegan said. "That cold air will sweep through the Great Lakes and into the Northeast by Friday, where highs may hold in the 20s and 30s in many areas."

"Behind the arctic front, areas of heavy lake-effect snow are expected for a time in the northern Great Lakes, with a burst of snow associated with the arctic front itself from the eastern Great Lakes into northern New England," Donegan said.

In the West, a front moving across the region will bring a chance for some moderate to heavy snow in the higher elevations of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies today.

The front will push into the central US with snow showers tapering off on Saturday before another storm system reaches the Pacific Northwest by Sunday. The Southwestern US will be under the influence of a strong upper level ridge providing warm and dry weather through the weekend.

Featured image: GFS 850 hPa Temperature Anomaly for November 11, 2017. Credit: TropicalTidbits, GFS