The coldest temperatures of the fall are expected in many areas.
An early winter preview is forecast for the Upper Midwest, the Ohio Valley and the Northeast next week, as a strong dip in the polar jet stream is expected to plunge temperatures anywhere from 10-20 degrees below average for more than 200 million Americans, Fox Weather predicts.
The colder conditions will also create the potential for light to moderate snow across that region beginning Sunday, the first of the season for many.
Climatologist Dr. David Legates of the Cornwall Alliance says November cold air outbreaks are not rare but…
"They are uncommon. As November goes on, they become more likely. Usually this is a Thanksgiving into December type of event that that can occur. This occurring this early is a little bit unusual. It's not that it's never happened before."
The Climate Prediction Center says La Nina conditions are present. This is when water temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean are colder than normal. These colder temperatures affect storm tracks, temperature and precipitation patterns across the U.S.
Legates said the current La Nina – which is expected to last through February -- could be causing it to get colder a little earlier than normal.
"The winters are going to be colder and wetter across the northern tier of states and warmer and drier across the southern tier. The Southwestern U.S. is generally cooler and wetter. But like they say, 'your results may vary.'"
