The extreme heat that’s been plaguing the Central U.S. from Dallas to St. Louis continues through the weekend, locking in conditions reminiscent of mid-summer for millions of people. This follows the warmest summer on record across the Lower 48.
From frost-covered mountains in New England to triple-digit heat in the Southern Plains, the U.S. will experience a dramatic temperature tug-of-war this week as fall arrives in the Northeast while summer refuses to let go elsewhere.
A sharp change in temperatures will spread across the Northeast early Tuesday, with some areas experiencing their first widespread frost and freeze conditions of the season.
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A strong cold front will push off the East Coast Monday night, followed by a cold Canadian air mass. Clearing skies, dry air and lighter winds will allow temperatures to drop quickly overnight, the FOX Forecast Center said.
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The coldest conditions will develop in higher elevations, including New York’s Adirondacks, Vermont’s Green Mountains, New Hampshire’s White Mountains and far northern Maine. Temperatures there could fall into the lower 30s, leading to localized freezes.
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Across interior New England, western Massachusetts, the Hudson Valley and central and upstate New York, morning temperatures are expected to fall into the upper 30s. Patchy frost could develop in rural valleys and other low-lying areas.
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The coast and major cities will be somewhat warmer, with lows in the 40s and 50s. Ocean water and heat retained by urban areas will help keep temperatures from falling as sharply.
The chilly weather in the Northeast will stand in stark contrast to the heat continuing across Texas and Oklahoma, the FOX Forecast Center said.
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Temperatures could climb well above 100 degrees, with heat index values between 105 and 110 degrees. Dallas and Abilene could once again challenge daily temperature records, while Mcallen, Texas, has reached at least 100 degrees for 50 consecutive days — a new record.
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The dramatic temperature differences come after a record-hot summer. Average temperatures across the Lower 48 from June through August were the warmest on record, surpassing the previous record set in 1936 and 2021 by 0.4 degrees.
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September has also started unusually warm, with nearly 20 locations recording their warmest start to the month on record and more than 50 ranking among their top five warmest.
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Hundreds of daily heat records have fallen, particularly across the Central and Southern Plains.
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Looking farther ahead, the warmest weather is expected to shift toward the West. The Climate Prediction Center’s 8- to 14-day outlook shows much of the region likely to experience above-average temperatures.
