Arctic blast to add misery for millions impacted by powerful nor'easter

A blast of arctic air will move into the eastern half of the United States this weekend, adding to the misery for millions of people expected to be impacted by a powerful nor'easter.

Temperature departure for Sunday. 

(FOX Weather)

Cold air will invade the eastern half of the United States by Saturday, and temperatures are expected to drop to 20 to 30 degrees below average from the Northeast and New England to as far south as Miami.

People in South Florida will need to trade in shorts for pants as temperatures will fall into the 30s. Miami is expected to see the lowest temperatures since 2010 when it bottoms out in the upper 30s on Sunday morning.

Northeast

Saturday is when the colder air will arrive.

Most of the region will be far below average, with most places staying below 20 degrees for high temperatures. Bangor, Maine, will be around 14 degrees, while temperatures will remain in the single digits in Burlington, Vermont.

On Saturday, the bitterly cold air will also creep into New York City, Pittsburgh and Richmond.

Sunday's High Temperatures

(FOX Weather)

The cold air will begin to move to the north by Sunday, but the Northeast will have to wait a bit longer for some relief.

Richmond and Charleston, West Virginia, will make it above freezing. To the north, however, temperatures will remain in the teens and 20s. 

Pittsburgh and New York City will get into the upper 20s. But the farther north you go, the colder it will remain. Buffalo, New York, will be about 23 degrees. And Burlington and Bangor will stay in the upper teens.

South

The southern United States will also see cold temperatures from this arctic blast. 

On Saturday, Atlanta is expected to only reach a high temperature of 37 degrees. The same is forecast for Charlotte.

It will be a bit warmer to the south, however. Savannah and Montgomery, Alabama, are forecast to stay around 44 degrees during the day.

Temperatures will finally begin to rebound during the day on Sunday. Nashville, Atlanta and Savannah will be in the lower 50s during the day. And it will be a bit warmer to the south in Montgomery and Tallahassee, Florida. 

Areas along the Gulf Coast, like New Orleans, will be in the mid-60s.

Mornings, however, are a different story.

Low temperatures on Saturday morning.

(FOX Weather)

People waking up on Saturday morning in the southern United States are in for a shock to the system.

Nashville will dip to 17 degrees Saturday morning. While it won't be as cold in other areas, temperatures will be in the 20s in Charlotte, Atlanta, Savannah and Tallahassee. Farther west, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Monroe, Louisiana, will be in the mid-20s.

New Orleans will even drop to near freezing by the time we get to Saturday morning.

Low temperatures on Sunday morning.

(FOX Weather)

The cold air will move farther south on Sunday morning, bringing frigid temperatures into Central and South Florida.

Eastern Texas, Louisiana and southern Arkansas will see some relief from the cold air. But to the east, it will be another chilly morning. Charlotte will be around 19 degrees. Atlanta, Montgomery, Savannah and Tallahassee will be in the mid-20s to start the day.

Low temperatures on Monday morning.

(FOX Weather)

On Monday morning, there will be some relief as the cold air retreats to the north. Northern and Central Florida could still see temperatures in the 20s, but it will finally warm to near or above freezing in Tallahassee and Savannah.

Areas along the Gulf Coast will be in the 30s and 40s.

Atlanta will still be cold but warmer than the previous two days. It's expected to be around 29 degrees in the morning.