Northeast U.S. faces dramatic temperature plunge and frost

A significant temperature shift is expected across the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States this weekend. Following a period of unseasonable warmth, a strong cold front will sweep eastward, causing temperatures to drop sharply. In some areas, daily highs could decrease by more than 20 degrees.

In cities such as Washington, D.C., and New York City, temperatures are projected to fall from the 70s and 80s into the 50s. The cold air mass is expected to bring windy conditions and potentially the first frost or freeze of the season for parts of Pennsylvania, upstate New York, New England, and inland New Jersey.

In New Jersey, the transition includes a period of unsettled weather. The Storm Prediction Center has identified a slight risk of damaging winds or an isolated tornado in western New Jersey due to thunderstorms associated with the cold front. By Sunday morning, widespread temperatures in the 30s are anticipated, signaling the end of the growing season for many local farmers and gardeners.