Here is what that means if you are US-bound.
Winter arrived with a jolt across large swathes of the United States as the first widespread snow and biting cold spread from the Midwest to the Northeast. The week began with intense lake-effect snow, then the system rolled east, bringing tricky visibility and unseasonable chill to major cities and holiday routes. Millions faced disruptive weather just as autumn fades and early winter plans take shape.
For British travellers with trips to New York, the Great Lakes or the South, it is a timely heads up. Snow reached as far as Nashville and even Myrtle Beach, while upstate New York and parts of Pennsylvania logged double-digit totals. The push of Arctic air is not lingering everywhere, but it is not done yet.
The lake-effect burst that buries the Midwest and hits Buffalo and Syracuse
On Monday, parts of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan picked up more than a foot of lake-effect snow, snarling roads around the Great Lakes. Indiana State Police said it « responded to hundreds of calls for assistance », a stark signal of how quickly these bands can turn familiar routes treacherous. Flurries even reached Nashville and the South Carolina coast.
By Tuesday, the snow shifted east and locked onto upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania. Hydetown in Pennsylvania recorded more than 12 inches, while Central Square near Syracuse saw more than 11 inches. Buffalo and Syracuse sat in the crosshairs once again, with the snow machine primed by relatively mild lake waters and sharp November air.
New York City picked up light snow and gusty winds, enough for local emergency officials to caution about reduced visibility during the afternoon commute. The edge of the system still had bite for those on foot, bike or behind the wheel.
Why this first deep freeze matters for UK travellers and families
The first big snow of the season often catches drivers and airlines adjusting to winter operations. If you are heading to the Northeast or making connections through Chicago or Detroit, factor in extra time. Even when skies clear, crews need longer to de-ice planes and turn aircraft around, and road teams work through backlogs. Travellers can breath easier with a few simple checks and a flexible itinerary.
City breaks to New York remain doable, but the upstate corridor towards the Finger Lakes and the Tug Hill Plateau can change fast. Lake-effect bands are narrow and intense, so one town piles up overnight while the next stays damp and grey. That is why locals keep a scraper in the car well before Christmas shopping begins.
Families with relatives in the Midwest should watch local advisories, as the same setup that dusted New York City also blanketed suburban Chicago. When a police agency says it « responded to hundreds of calls for assistance » you know that minor slides and fender benders stack up quickly even at low speeds.
How cold it feels next and where snow lingers into Wednesday
Western New York and northern New England remain under snow showers into Wednesday morning, with a winter weather advisory in Buffalo calling for another 3 to 5 inches. The snowy bands ease as winds shift and colder air loses moisture, yet road salt and ploughs still have a busy run. The rest of the East turns its attention to the cold.
The cold blast set record low temperatures in dozens of Southern cities from Knoxville to the Florida Keys, rare for mid November. That chill pushes the apparent temperature well below thermometers, with the wind chill biting hardest at daybreak. Here is how it is set to feel in key hubs.
- Wind chill near 34 in Jacksonville and 36 in Charleston, around 30 in Atlanta, 35 in Nashville and Montgomery, and 29 in Charlotte
The Northeast wakes to a day that feels like the 20s to low 30s, which is scarf and gloves territory even for hardy commuters. In the South, pipes and pets need the kind of care usually saved for January, and gardeners will be rolling out covers despite the calendar. Cold snaps like this test routines before winter fully settles in.
For Britons planning transatlantic trips, the headline is simple. The weather is wintry, the pattern is mobile, and the worst impacts hug lake belts and higher ground. Check your airline’s travel alerts, keep an eye on local forecasts for Buffalo, Syracuse and Pennsylvania, and allow slack in your plans while this first deep freeze runs its course.
