Cooler Weather and Unsettled Conditions on Tap for the Central U.S.

Millions of people in the central U.S. will be checking their calendars to verify that it is indeed September and not October. An influx of cool air will expand across the nation's heartland in the days ahead, sending a chill through the region. Some isolated communities in the higher terrains may even observe the first snow of the season. Read on for all of the details.

Temperatures Set to Tumble Across the Central U.S.

A southward dip in the jet stream will pair with an incoming cold front surging across the Plains and the Midwest to send the mercury tumbling. Temperatures could fall as low as 20 degrees below the historical averages for this time of the year, beginning in the middle of the week.

How chilly will it get? The temperatures will struggle to break the 50-degree barrier for highs in some of the northernmost areas of the Midwest. Highs will hover in the 60s and 70s throughout the bulk of the central Plains and the Ohio Valley heading into the weekend.

Plentiful clouds and breezy conditions will work to mitigate the threat of frost or freeze situations in the overnight hours. However, these conditions could be possible should the clouds break just as the temperatures are falling overnight. A frost would effectively end the growing season for gardeners.

The chill in the air will accompany an increase in the clouds and rain showers throughout the Great Lakes. The noticeably cooler air moving over the warmer waters of these lakes will translate to a threat of waterspouts.

The greatest chance of snow will be across the northern edge of Minnesota as lows fall into the mid 30s after the sun goes down. Any flakes that do fly will likely mix in with chilly rain.

The arrival of the cool front will support the development of rain showers and thunderstorms for much of the central U.S. Potential impacts of this weather pattern include small hail and gusty conditions. This is a part of the nation that could use the moisture due to the abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.

Severe storms are a possibility farther to the south as the cooler air mass clashes with the warmer air already in place. The highest concentration of severe storms is expected in a zone from the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles and to the north into central portions of Missouri. In addition to the hail and windy conditions, this zone could also see localized downpours.

Motorists using interstates 35, 40, and 70 in this region will want to be aware of the chance of travel disruptions late Wednesday. For instance, Kansas City is forecast to see the threat of isolated storms in the afternoon before the moisture machine picks up overnight. It will remain warm at this time with highs in the low 80s. Thursday's forecast is calling for highs in the upper 70s before topping out at about 68 degrees on Friday.

Looking Ahead to Thursday

The front will continue its journey to the east on Thursday, resulting in rain showers and storms for portions of the Ohio Valley and the interior Northeast. This region was particularly dry in August, meaning that the precipitation will be a welcome relief. For example, Pittsburgh only recorded about 45% of the average rainfall for the month of August.

Pittsburgh is forecast to see a messy day of weather on Thursday, with widespread thunderstorm activity. Forecasters are warning that some of the storm cells could pack severe impacts. Winds will be whipping around from the southwest at 10 to 20 mph while highs will max out in the upper 60s. The Steel City is forecast to see overnight lows fall into the upper 50s.

The cooler air will not be as noticeable across the eastern U.S. when compared to the central part of the country. Forecasters believe that the front will weaken as it inches closer to the Atlantic coastline, mitigating its impacts. The forecast is calling for daytime highs to fall 7 to 10 degrees below the historical average for the beginning of September.

Stay tuned as we update the forecast for the weekend as the week progresses.

Weather changes fast — help your community stay prepared. Share this story with friends, family, or your group chat.