Thursday night into Friday marked the dramatic arrival of winter, enveloping virtually the entire continent in snow, storms, and notably low temperatures.
The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts temperatures in the west-central U.S. to plummet approximately 20 degrees below normal on Friday, following a relatively mild fall season. The wintry conditions, accompanied by freezing weather, are set to traverse the Rockies and move into the High Plains for the remainder of the holiday weekend, signaling the onset of winter in many locations.
AccuWeather captured the essence of the wintry transformation, tweeting, “It may be Thanksgiving week, but it’s already starting to look a lot like Christmas in Wyoming!” The tweet included a video of people and pets strolling through the snow in Teton Village. Similar picturesque scenes unfolded in Maine, with one individual capturing a stunning video of a winter wonderland in Bridgton, resembling scenes from a holiday movie.
Tennessee experienced freezing fog on Thanksgiving morning, characterized by air saturated with supercooled water droplets that freeze almost instantly. While sounding somewhat daunting, reports suggest it was more of an inconvenience than a major concern. Notably, the NWS Goodland base in Tennessee recorded temperatures dropping to around 16 degrees, with a wind chill of 3 degrees, categorized as “moderate.”
Anticipated snowfall includes an expected 4.6 inches in southwest Nebraska by Saturday, raising the possibility of closures along parts of the I-80 corridor.
The prevailing cold spell is anticipated to persist throughout the weekend and likely extend into the new year. Acknowledging the unpredictable nature of weather, it’s important to note that forecasts provide a glimpse into potential scenarios, emphasizing the dynamic and ever-changing nature of atmospheric conditions.
