Northeast bracing for coldest weekend of December so far

Hot on the heels of an Alberta clipper and an Atlantic coastal storm will be a blast of cold air that will lunge southward from Canada and into the northeastern United States this weekend, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. The frigid conditions will be a factor for those with outdoor plans.

The cold air from Canada will dodge the typical warming effects that the Great Lakes impose in the Northeast. Winds will be directed from the north for a time rather than from the west or northwest. The latter tends to reduce the severity of the cold air.

GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

ADVERTISEMENT

Much of the interior Northeast and Great Lakes region observed AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures in the single digits Saturday morning and midday.

RealFeel® Temperatures no higher than the 10s were also observed in the major metro areas of New York City, Boston and Philadelphia with the lower 20s felt in Washington, D.C.

Actual temperatures will dip to their lowest levels since last winter in many places in the Northeast.

In New York City, after a day on Saturday when temperatures bounced around in the lower 30s, temperatures will be no higher than the mid-20s on Sunday and may struggle to exceed 30 on Monday afternoon. Nighttime lows on Sunday night will be in the 10s and rivaling the lowest temperatures felt since last January.

As high pressure settles over the Northeast from Sunday to Monday, winds will ease, and lake-effect snow bands triggered by airflow over warm Great Lakes waters will wind down.

ADVERTISEMENT

The cold air could be slow to leave parts of the Northeast by the time the next storm comes calling just before Christmas, and that could lead to wintry precipitation.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.