Massive Fall Temperature Plunge to Deliver Gusty Winds, Rain, and First Snowflakes Across Eastern U.S.

After another warm day forecast by AccuWeather across the Central U.S. Wednesday, a sharp 30-degree cooldown with gusty winds, rain, and for some the first snowflakes of the season will impact a large part of the eastern half of the U.S. this weekend in a region that saw record-challenging heat Tuesday and Wednesday.

“A significant change from summerlike warmth to the coldest air of the season so far is expected to impact much of the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast late this week into the weekend,” said AccuWeather expert meteorologist Tyler Roys. “This cold front will carry some moisture with it bringing rain to many places, but even snow in higher elevations in New England.”

AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures are forecast to drop by as much as 35 degrees in major cities including St. Louis, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh this weekend.

The looming cooldown follows a widespread heat-up Tuesday, that saw highs in the 80s and 90s across the Central U.S. into Ohio Valley, and 70s and 80s across mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

That warmth will be short-lived as a storm moving south from Canada across the Great Lakes and Northeast brings gusty winds of 35-45 mph, showers, and thunderstorms Friday and Friday night.

Saturday is expected to bring the coldest conditions, with rain and the first snowflakes of the season in some higher elevation areas of the Northeast.

AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature
AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature, which was patented, combines 14 factors to provide the most accurate measure of how representative the current or forecast weather conditions really “feel” to an appropriately dressed person. Find your current and forecasted AccuWeather RealFeel® for the sun and the shade on the AccuWeather app.