Cold Front to Sweep Across Majority of U.S. and Bring Indiana Frost

A strong cold front will encompass 80 to 90 percent of the U.S. soon, according to USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey. By the end of this week Rippey says there will be widespread freezes at least down to the Central High Plains and through the Midwest. Rippey says the cold system will have an indirect effect in the Northwestern region of the country.

“That’s going to get the winds fired up across much of the western United States. So for a short period of time until cooler and more humid weather arrives we are going to be in an enhanced wildfire situation across most of the northwestern U.S.”

It looks like the cold air will stay for a while, at least through mid-October, with a continuation of below normal temperatures from the Plains to the East Coast.

“We could see temperatures rebound a little bit across western and southern Texas and also rebounding in the northwest. In terms of rainfall patterns with the cool weather in place it looks like a relatively dry pattern for much of the country continuing to favor harvest activities, but a concern for the northwestern winter wheat crops. Above normal precipitation from October 9^th to the 15^th is mostly confined to the southern portions of the high plains and the Rockies.”

Rippey says the Great Lakes region will experience some brief, sudden rain storms and possibly some brief, sudden snow storms, and there will be some rain showers along the East Coast.

Indiana will not escape the cold spell. HAT meteorologist Rob Wasson says in his newest farm forecast that Thursday temperatures will be mild before a big cool down comes in Friday with a cold front. Rain will be possible through the overnight hours and into Friday. A few lingering showers will be possible on Saturday. The much colder air comes down into the region this weekend when high temperatures will be in the 50s and lows in the 30s. Frost will be likely Saturday and Sunday nights.[audio:https://www.hoosieragtoday.com//wp-content/uploads//2012/10/Cool-US-weather-setting-in.mp3|titles=Cool US weather setting in]

Source: USDA