Nor'easter brings first winter snow and sharp cold to eastern United States

A developing nor'easter is set to break a period of relatively mild weather in the eastern United States later this week, bringing the first snowfall of the season to higher elevations in the Interior Northeast and the Great Lakes region. The system will form over the Midwest on Wednesday, gradually intensify, and move eastward, delivering blustery conditions and cold rain from the Midwest through the Mid-Atlantic to coastal New England.

High elevations in the Interior Northeast could see dustings to a few inches of snow, while most lower-lying areas, including the I-95 corridor from Philadelphia to Boston, are expected to receive mainly cold rain with possible mixed snow in valleys. The amount of precipitation and its type will depend on the storm’s speed; a faster-moving system would limit snowfall, whereas a slower, coastal track could allow snow to linger into Saturday and produce higher totals.

Both scenarios may produce gusty winds and localized coastal flooding, though impacts are projected to be less severe than those from the September nor'easter. After the storm passes, a brief cold snap is forecast for the region east of the Mississippi, with temperatures dropping 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit below average. Sub-freezing temperatures are anticipated in parts of the Deep South on Friday and Saturday, and areas such as Atlanta, Birmingham, and central Florida could experience their first freeze or 40-degree readings since early spring.

The cold air will also settle over the Midwest, keeping temperatures in the 40s from Thursday through the weekend, but the snap is not expected to persist beyond that period.