So Long Summer: Up to 10 Inches of Snow May Fall Today—Here’s Where
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Well, we’ve officially entered the final dog days of summer . On Aug. 23, AccuWeather confirmed that “false fall” is on temporary hiatus as a late-summer heat surge is expected to set the Midwest and Northeast regions ablaze ahead of Labor Day weekend. (Thank goodness for Starbucks’ iced fall drinks, right?) But while AccuWeather has issued an extreme heat advisory for the eastern half of the country, folks in Montana have also been told to stay indoors due to increased risks of hypothermia. Yup, that’s right. While temperatures are soaring to triple-digits in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., parts of Montana are bracing for a summer snowstorm.
RELATED: This Winter Will Be Full of “Rapid-Fire Storms,” Farmers’ Almanac Predicts .
The mountains of northwestern Montana could get up to 10 inches of snow today, reports the National Weather Service.
“The strong cold front associated with the next low pressure system is marching across the northern Rockies. Sharply colder air behind the system will likely bring the first snowflakes of the season for the high elevations of northwestern Montana,” according to Aug. 28’s forecast outlook.
This morning, the Montana Department of Transportation issued its own winter storm advisory, which will remain in effect until 6:00 p.m. M.D.T this evening unless weather patterns or conditions change. In addition to several inches of snow, the organization said wind gusts may reach up to 60 miles per hour.
“Slushy and slippery conditions on roadways above 5,000 feet. Backcountry trails, especially over mountain passes, will become snow covered and slippery. Strong winds combined with the falling snow will lead to periods of limited visibility,” reads the advisory message.
RELATED: Meteorologists Are Predicting Up to 10 More Hurricanes in the Next Month .
Meanwhile, today is predicted to be one of the hottest days on record for the summer 2024 season, with temperatures reaching the upper 90s to the low 100s throughout the Midwest and Northeast. Temperatures aren’t expected to dip until later tomorrow, Aug. 29.
USA Today reports that nearly 50 million people were pinged with heat alerts this morning and that scorching-high temperatures well into the 100s are also expected in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arizona, and southern California. Ironically, northern California got a light dusting of snow just last week in and around Lake Tahoe.
The weather service is asking the public (particularly young children and the elderly) to remain indoors with air conditioning, stay hydrated, and to limit outdoor activities that may expose them to sun and heat.
Meteorologists Are Predicting Up to 10 More Hurricanes in the Next Month
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Despite what the drink menu at Starbucks says, we’re still a month out from the first official day of fall. However, Mother Nature seems to be just as eager as we are to throw on a cozy sweater and grab a PSL. The temperatures are cooling down, and climate patterns appear to be falling into their typical autumn routine (crisp morning air, we missed you!). Unfortunately, weather experts predict it won’t stay like this for long. While another summer heatwave isn’t on the horizon, meteorologists warn we could see an unprecedented amount of hurricanes between now and the end of September.
RELATED: This Winter Will Be Full of “Rapid-Fire Storms,” Farmers’ Almanac Predicts .
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 3, with peak season occurring around early-to-mid September. Thus far, five named storms have hit the Atlantic Basin, including Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Debby, but meteorologists expect that number to quintuple.
In a typical year, 14 named storms will make landfall, seven of which turn into hurricanes. But now, the NOAA predicts that this season will bring as many as 24 named storms, and eight to 13 of those will escalate into hurricanes—with many of these potentially happening in mere weeks.
With peak storm season right around the corner, AccuWeather issued a stark advisory for “back-to-back tropical threats in the Atlantic Basin.” The team’s expert meteorologists forecast up to 10 hurricanes from Aug. 27, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2024.
“We could see a parade of storms developing during the month of September. There’s a possibility that we could see multiple tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic basin on the same day, similar to the frequency of storms that we’ve seen during other supercharged hurricane seasons like 2020,” said AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva .
“The statistical peak of the hurricane season is Sept. 10, and we expect the Atlantic basin to be incredibly active,” he added.
The NOAA’s Weather Service is urging the public to brush up on hurricane safety rules, especially those living along the Atlantic coast. “Prepare for threats like damaging winds, storm surge and inland flooding from heavy rainfall,” per the notice. Additionally, the NOAA advises having an evacuation plan in place.
“We’re continuing to see the climatological hallmarks of an active season,” said Matthew Rosencrans , lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “Sea surface temperatures remain abnormally high, and La Niña is still expected to emerge during the hurricane season, so the time to prepare is now.”
