Arctic assault on millions in eastern US continues Thursday before welcome weekend warmup arrives
More than 230 million people across the country will be feeling below-average temperatures Thursday, but that number drops dramatically by Friday as warmer weather arrives.
Cities across eastern US see record low temperatures Thursday morning
The arctic blast will finally loosen its grip on the eastern US, but it was another record-breaking cold start on Thursday morning.
Millions of Americans across the eastern half of the U.S. woke up to freezing temperatures Thursday thanks to a bitter blast of arctic air that set records as it made its way across the nation.
More than a dozen record-low temperatures were set Wednesday morning, and more were set Thursday as nearly 70 million people from Texas to the Northeast were under frost and freeze alerts.
A majority of those alerts expired with daytime heating, but a Freeze Watch remains in effect across northern Georgia, including Atlanta, until Friday morning as temperatures are again expected to drop overnight.
Record-low temperatures reported Wednesday, Thursday
Record low temperatures on Thursday, November 2, 2023.
(FOX Weather)
Thursday is the last day of the widespread arctic blast.
At least 17 cities from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast saw records fall, some of which were held for 100 years.
Martinsburg, West Virginia, dropped to 21 degrees this morning, which broke its old record of 25 degrees set on this day in 1923. Montgomery, Alabama, tied its record of 28 degrees, and Trenton, New Jersey, broke its record when temperatures dropped to 28 degrees.
Record low temperatures on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
(FOX Weather)
More than a dozen record-low temperatures were also reported on Wednesday. Hibbing, Minnesota, reached a bone-chilling 4 degrees on Wednesday morning. Springfield, Missouri, also broke a record with a low temperature of 19 degrees. Tulsa, Oklahoma, broke its old record when temperatures tumbled to 23 degrees. Topeka, Kansas, dropped to 19 degrees – also a new record.
Temperatures rebound this weekend
(FOX Weather)
More than 230 million people across the country will be feeling below-average temperatures Thursday, with a majority of those feeling about 5 degrees cooler than average.
By Friday, that number drops dramatically to about 45 million Americans being below average and only about 5 million on Saturday.
On the flip side, more people will be enjoying above-average temperatures as we get closer to the weekend.
About 82 million Americans will experience above-average temperatures on Friday, but that number skyrockets to nearly 200 million Saturday and more than 250 million Sunday.