Record Cold Grips Southeast, Snow Pounds Northeast U.S./ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A powerful Arctic front brought record-breaking cold to the Southeast U.S., with freeze warnings across three states. Simultaneously, heavy snow from lake-effect storms blanketed areas from Michigan to New York. California also braces for torrential rains and mountain snow from an incoming atmospheric river.
Arctic Blast Weather Quick Looks
- Record-breaking lows hit Florida, Georgia, and Alabama
- Iguana warnings issued as Florida temperatures dip below 40°F
- Orlando theme park visitors bundled up in rare cold
- Lake-effect snow dumps over a foot across the Great Lakes
- White Grass Ski Center opens early in West Virginia
- Northern New York hit with 6–9 inches of snow
- California braces for flooding, mudslides from atmospheric river
- Over 21 million people in California under heavy rain alerts
Deep Look: Winter Cold and Snow Wallop U.S. from Coast to Coast
An intense early-season Arctic cold front swept across the eastern two-thirds of the United States on Tuesday, plunging temperatures in the Southeast to record lows while heavy snow blanketed parts of the Northeast and Great Lakes region. At the same time, the West Coast faces its own weather threat with a powerful atmospheric river targeting California with torrential rain and mountain snow.
Deep Freeze Hits the Southeast
More than 18 million residents across Alabama, Georgia, and Florida awoke to freeze warnings, a sharp contrast to the 70s and 80s they had enjoyed days earlier. The polar air mass originated in the Northern Plains and swept southeastward, shattering longstanding temperature records.
In Jacksonville, Florida, temperatures plummeted to 28 degrees Fahrenheit, smashing the previous low of 35 set in 1977. The abrupt drop shocked residents, many of whom were still dressed for fall.
“This kind of transition is jarring,” said Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “You go from sunny and warm to freezing overnight.”
Frozen Iguanas and Theme Park Jackets
Florida’s unique wildlife also reacted. As temperatures fell below 40 degrees, iguanas began falling from trees—a phenomenon now common enough that locals refer to it as a “falling iguana advisory.” The cold sends the cold-blooded reptiles into a stunned, dormant state.
In Orlando, tourists visiting theme parks found themselves bundled in winter wear as temperatures hovered near freezing. Even in South Florida cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale, thermometers struggled to reach the 50s, with high temperatures remaining below 70 throughout Tuesday.
While Florida agriculture officials reported no immediate crop damage, they remained cautious ahead of another cold night.
Snowstorm Blankets the Northeast and Great Lakes
Farther north, the collision of cold air with warmer waters in the Great Lakes triggered lake-effect snowstorms. Some areas saw more than a foot of accumulation between Monday and Tuesday, prompting winter weather advisories across upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Communities such as Ubly, Michigan, reported nearly 8 inches of snow, with strong winds and plunging wind chills creating hazardous conditions. Barbara Butch, a local village clerk and librarian, noted the weather came in fast and strong: “It just kept coming down.”
In New York, cities including Buffalo, Syracuse, and Jamestown were covered with 2 to 6 inches of snow, with Tug Hill Plateau expecting up to 9 inches. High winds and poor visibility led to snow squall warnings along Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania.
Parts of Vermont saw up to 8 inches of accumulation by Monday night, making for treacherous driving conditions and a difficult commute.
The White Grass Ski Touring Center in West Virginia’s Canaan Valley was one of the few to benefit early, using over 14 inches of fresh snow to kick off its cross-country skiing season.
Storms Target California With Heavy Rain and Snow
While the East battled cold and snow, the West prepared for a deluge. A long plume of moisture known as an atmospheric river is bearing down on California, expected to bring heavy rains and mountain snow beginning Wednesday.
The San Francisco Bay Area will see the initial downpours before the system moves swiftly south. Over a foot of snow is forecast for higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Forecasters have issued warnings for over 2 million Californians ahead of Wednesday’s rainfall, but the impacted area expands dramatically by Thursday to over 21 million people. Though Los Angeles may not be hit directly, surrounding terrain north and northwest of the city is at heightened risk.
Burn scars from recent wildfires make hillsides especially vulnerable to mudslides and debris flows, and forecasters are urging caution in both low-lying areas and mountainous regions.
“Rainfall on burn areas is a major concern,” Kleebauer said. “Water doesn’t absorb easily into the scorched soil, making runoff and flooding more likely.”
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