Coldest Air of the Season Sweeping Through Central and Southern States

November 21,2015
After mild weather this past week temperatures have fallen back to levels more typical of November in parts of the central and eastern United States and some areas will see the coldest temperatures of the season over the next day or two.
For example, the recent highs in the 50s and low 60s in Chicago were replaced with highs in the 40s Thursday and Friday. Winter Storm Bella was the second largest snowstorm on record for the Windy City, where 11.2 inches of snow was recorded at O'Hare International Airport.
(MORE: Bella Brings Record Snowfall to Parts of the Midwest)
A second blast of cold air is sweeping eastward through the central and eastern states behind Bella. This second surge of colder air is more potent, dropping temperatures up to 15 degrees below late-November averages in portions of the Midwest, South and East through Monday.

Forecast Lows

Low temperatures are likely to dip into the teens and 20s Sunday morning in parts of the Midwest, with lows in the single digits in some areas that will be covered in snow from Winter Storm Bella.
These temperatures would be the coldest so far this season for many locations including:

• Chicago
• Des Moines
• Milwaukee
• Detroit
• Indianapolis
• St. Louis

Forecast Lows

Some locations in the South will likely see their first freeze of the season on Sunday or Monday morning (temperatures in parentheses are the lowest temperatures so far this season as of Nov. 19):

• Atlanta (38 degrees)
• Memphis (38 degrees)
• Little Rock (38 degrees)
• Dallas (45 degrees)
• Oklahoma City (34 degrees)
• Birmingham, Alabama (33 degrees)

Freeze warnings are in effect for much of the region, including parts of the southern Plains, Ozarks and Deep South. Freeze watches have even been posted for portions of the Gulf Coast and Carolinas.
In addition to the frigid low temperatures, highs will be quite chilly as well. Here are some specifics for each region on Sunday (click city name for more information).
Midwest:

• Chicago and Minneapolis: Highs will only be in the 20 and 30s for Sunday.
• Detroit and Cincinnati: Highs in the 30s on Sunday. 
• Kansas City and St. Louis: Sunday's highs reach the mid to upper 40s.

A slight moderating trend in temperatures is anticipated by Monday and Tuesday for the central Plains to lower Ohio Valley, although chilly conditions should linger across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes.

Forecast Highs

South:

• Dallas and Little Rock: Lows tumble into the upper 20s to 30s Sunday morning.
• New Orleans and Panama City: Lows in the upper 30s to mid-40s Sunday morning, with frost possible just a few miles inland.
• Atlanta and Raleigh: Highs may struggle to reach 50 Sunday and lows will drop into the upper 20s Monday morning.

While temperatures stay mainly below average across the region for Sunday and Monday, parts of Texas and Florida should warm back to near average by Tuesday.

Forecast Highs

Northeast:

• Buffalo and Pittsburgh: Highs in the mid to upper 30s forecast for Sunday. Lows in the 20s Monday morning.
• Boston, New York and Washington: Highs in the upper 40s to mid-50s Sunday.

New England and Upstate New York can expect chilly conditions to prevail through early in the coming week, but the Middle Atlantic region and central Appalachians should see a gradual moderating trend in temperatures by Tuesday.

Forecast Highs

As high pressure eventually moves off the East Coast and a storm system begins to develop over the Rockies by the middle of the week, warmer air should return to much of the central and eastern United States by Thanksgiving.

MORE: Winter in Every State