Millions of Americans are being hit by the coldest Thanksgiving week in recent years.
Temperature drops affected several major US cities, with numbers below the five-year average for the week of November 27 to December 3.
The most extreme drop occurs in Anchorage, Alaska, where temperatures of 11 degrees Fahrenheit are 10.15 F lower than the city’s five-year average of 21.15 F, or 47.99 percent cooler.
In the Northeast, Philadelphia experiences average temperatures of 37.36 F, which is 5.56 F lower than the five-year average, a decrease of 12.95%. In Boston, temperatures drop 4.06 F (10.07%) to 37.36 F. New York City is also colder than usual for Thanksgiving week, with an average temperature of 38.29 F, a drop of 5.36 F degrees (12.28%).
Château/VIEWpresse
In the Midwest, Detroit and Chicago are hit by the cold, with Detroit averaging 4.55 F cooler at 31.5 F and Chicago experiencing temperatures of 27.5 F, or 22.32% cooler than average across 5 years of 35.4 F.
Denver, Colorado, is experiencing average temperatures of 33.93°F this week, 0.27F below the five-year average.
Heading west, Seattle has average temperatures of 41.71 F, which is 1.92 F cooler than the 5-year average.
Two Californian cities are also experiencing temperature drops. Sacramento has an average this week of 46.64 F (2.93 F below the 5-year average) and in San Francisco the figure is 53.14 F (down 1.21 F).
In the nation’s capital, Washington DC, temperatures this week average 37.93 F, which is 7.64 F below the five-year average and a deviation of 16.76 percent.
Heading south, average temperatures in Houston, Texas are 57.43 F, 0.92 F below the 5-year figure.
In Florida, four cities are colder this week: Miami’s average temperature is 72.43 F (0.64 F lower than the last five years); Gainesville 56.14 F (3.76 F lower); Orlando 61.5 F (4.38 F below average); and Tampa 62.14 F (down 5.18 F).
Bucking the trend
Residents of some cities will experience warmer than average temperatures, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Park City, Utah.
However, winter weather warnings have been issued in eight states as heavy snow, gusty winds and hazardous travel conditions are expected over the holiday weekend.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued comprehensive winter storm warnings in Wyoming, Alaska, Colorado and Utah.
Weather advisories are also in effect for parts of Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Nevada.
Up to 36 inches of snow could accumulate in some areas, with winds reaching speeds of up to 55 mph. Hazardous conditions are expected to significantly impact Thanksgiving travel, with reduced visibility and snow-covered roads making driving conditions hazardous.
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