Cold, Rain, and Even Some Snow in the Forecast for the Eastern U.S.

It is finally starting to feel like November for the eastern half of the nation. The central and eastern U.S. have been experiencing a downright balmy fall season but that is all going to change this week thanks to the first real infusion of cold air and a duo of gusty storms. Some parts of the region may even see the first snowflakes of the year. Here is what you need to know about this upcoming weather pattern. ​

Colder Temperatures on the Horizon

Now is the time to break out your winter wear and make sure your furnace is ready to get to work. A dramatic change in the weather is right around the corner for the eastern half of the U.S., a part of the country that saw summer linger well into fall this year.

How warm has it been? According to the Southeast Regional Climate Center, the first two weeks of November were the warmest on record for several cities in a zone from Texas to Florida and up into the southern Appalachians. It was also exceptionally warm for the northern tier of the region.

The blast of colder air is set to push into the Plains states by the middle of the work week. This chilly air will invade the southern U.S., the lower Midwest, and the East Coast by Thursday. Forecasters believe this cold air will have staying power, sticking around through the weekend.

While most people will notice the crisp daytime highs, the swing in the overnight lows will be the most impactful change of this change in the weather. The mercury will crash into the 30s and 40s in the South. Atlanta will see the overnight readings dip down below the 50-degree mark beginning on Thursday and lasting through the weekend.

Places as far south as Florida may see the temperatures dip into the 40s and the 50s after the sun goes down across the Sunshine State. Jacksonville is forecast to see lows slip to about 42 degrees overnight Friday and into Saturday. Daytime highs will top out in the mid 60s by the end of the week in this part of northern Florida.

Daytime highs in the 40s and high 30s will be the norm for the interior Northeast and the Midwest. For instance, after seeing the overnight low bottom out at the freezing mark overnight Wednesday, Indianapolis will only see a high of about 37 degrees on Thursday.

It will be even colder in Kansas City. Clear skies at night will allow chillier air to settle in over this part of the Midwest. Kansas City is forecast to see an overnight low that plunges into the upper 20s on Thursday night.