Temperatures to Plunge 15 to 20 Degrees Below Normal Across the South and Eastern US Next Weekend With Highs in the 50s and 60s and Lows Dropping Into the 30s and 40s
SOUTHERN UNITED STATES — A significant cold pattern is forecast to grip a large portion of the South and Eastern United States during the first weekend of May, with temperature departures running 15 to 20 degrees below normal across a wide swath of the region. Forecasters are describing the setup as unusual for early May, with afternoon highs expected to reach only the 50s and 60s across many areas while overnight lows drop into the 30s and 40s across portions of the South and Midwest.
The temperature anomaly map from WeatherBell Analytics shows deep green shading blanketing the central and eastern United States, with departure values ranging from 10 to 16 degrees below normal across the core of the coldest air mass.
Coldest Departures Concentrated Across the Central and Southern States
The most extreme temperature departures next weekend are concentrated across a broad corridor covering the central and southern United States. Temperature anomaly values of 14 to 16 degrees below normal are mapped across portions of Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama, placing these states at the heart of the cold air outbreak for the first weekend of May.
Further north across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, departures of 10 to 13 degrees below normal are indicated, while the mid-Atlantic and Carolina coastlines are also forecast to run 10 to 16 degrees below normal during the same period.
Highs in the 50s and 60s Across a Wide Region
The practical impact of this cold pattern will be afternoon high temperatures that feel more like early March than early May across much of the region. Highs in the 50s are expected across the northern and interior portions of the cold zone, while communities further south may reach the low to mid 60s during the warmest part of the afternoon.
For areas like Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and the Carolinas where normal early May highs typically run in the upper 70s to low 80s, readings in the 50s and 60s will feel dramatically different from seasonal expectations. Residents who have already packed away their jackets and sweaters are being advised to retrieve them ahead of next weekend.
Overnight Lows Dropping Into the 30s and 40s
Perhaps more notable than the cool daytime highs are the overnight low temperatures expected during this cold pattern. Lows are forecast to drop into the 30s and 40s across a significant portion of the affected region during the first weekend of May, raising concerns about sensitive vegetation and any early garden plantings that may already be in the ground.
Residents across the South who have planted warm-season gardens or have flowering trees and shrubs in bloom should monitor the overnight low forecasts closely as next weekend approaches and take protective measures if temperatures threaten to drop into the lower 40s or upper 30s in their area.
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