Frigid Saturday to rank as one of coldest winter days in northeastern US

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

March 4,2017, 10:12:15AM,EST

 

 

A quick burst of arctic air will have some people shivering in the northeastern United States, while a damaging freeze grips parts of the southern United States.
The weather will have people reaching for an extra blanket, pushing up the thermostat at home and donning a winter coat and hat when heading outside. Ski slopes may have a busy weekend thanks to the cold outbreak.
"The arctic air will deliver one of the coldest days of the winter for portions of upstate New York and New England on Saturday," according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.

Temperatures will fail to climb past the teens and 20s F on Saturday in part of the Northeast. Saturday may rank as one of the top-five coldest days of the winter for some.
On Saturday, the combination of temperature, gusty wind and dry air will result in AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures in the single digits and teens for the better part of the day in southern New England. It will feel like subzero levels in northern New England.

Actual temperatures may struggle to reach the freezing mark in New York City. As far south as Washington, D.C., temperatures will be 10 to 15 degrees below average on Saturday. The chill will only be negated by sunshine.
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Across the central and northern Appalachians, there will be lingering clouds, snow showers and flurries.
"Motorists planning on traveling on I-80 in central Pennsylvania and I-86 and I-88 in southern New York on Saturday morning should remain alert for rapidly changing weather conditions due to another round of localized snow showers and squalls," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
The cold shot will also slow the northward progression of bud break and emergence of early spring flowers.
Farther south, nighttime and early-morning temperatures will dip to frosty and freezing levels in much of Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia and the northern parts of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina into Sunday.

While it is too early to be of concern for warm weather crops such as corn in the region, there is risk to some crops and ornamental vegetation.
"The greatest risk of frost and freeze damage will be to fruit trees and nursery stock," according to AccuWeather Senior Agricultural Meteorologist Dale Mohler.
Where possible, preventative measures should be take to minimize the risk of damage.
"Winter wheat has not advanced enough to be of concern this early in March in the South," Mohler said. "Temperatures would have to dip lower than the 20s to cause significant damage at this stage of green up."
After bottoming out Sunday morning, temperatures will begin to trend upward on Sunday afternoon and rebound to above-average levels on Monday and Tuesday. However, the temperature rebound could also be accompanied by another round of severe weather prior to the middle of next week.
Another surge of cold air is likely to follow late next week in the eastern U.S.