Southeast US Shivers in Record-Low Temps, Northeast Buried Under Heavy Snowfall
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A sudden and intense cold snap swept across the southeastern United States on Tuesday, plunging 18 million people under a freeze warning in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. The region, which had been basking in warm temperatures just days ago, was shocked by record-low temperatures, with some areas experiencing a remarkable 40-degree drop in temperature. According to meteorologist Scott Kleebauer, the southeastern U.S. broke daily records, with a low of 28 degrees Fahrenheit recorded at the Jacksonville, Florida airport on Tuesday morning. This shattered the previous record low of 35 degrees set in 1977. The cold snap, which was caused by a direct shot of Arctic air from the Northern Plains, also brought snowfall to parts of the Northeast, including the eastern Great Lakes. Several inches of snow blanketed areas along the lakes, with forecasters predicting additional snowfall in the coming days. Residents in the Southeast were caught off guard, with iguanas falling from trees as the temperature dropped below 40 degrees. Iguanas, being reptiles, are not accustomed to such low temperatures and can go into a state of hibernation when exposed to them. Visitors to Orlando's theme parks were forced to bundle up as low temperatures neared freezing, while early-morning temperatures in Fort Lauderdale and Miami dipped into the upper 40s. Agriculture officials in Florida held their breaths as the cold front passed, but reported no major issues. Meanwhile, the Great Lakes region experienced significant snowfall, with over 14 inches falling at the White Grass Ski Touring Center in West Virginia. The cold air over the lakes created ripe conditions for lake-effect snow, with forecasters predicting additional snowfall in the coming days. Communities downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario were also hit with snow, with the National Weather Service predicting anywhere from 2 to 6 inches in some New York cities. The snow was expected to add to the region's already significant snowfall totals, with some areas expecting over 100 inches by spring. On the West Coast, an atmospheric river was expected to bring heavy rains and mountain snow to California later in the week. The long plume of tropical moisture was predicted to drench the San Francisco Bay Area starting Wednesday, with over a foot of snow expected in parts of the Sierra Nevada. Forecasters warned that heavy rainfall would not be well-absorbed into soil burned by wildfires, making communities vulnerable to runoff, mudslides, or flowing debris. The storm was expected to impact over 21 million people, including the city of Los Angeles, by Thursday.
