A large swath of the United States is on a wild weather roller coaster as temperatures in some cities have dropped by as much as 60 degrees in just 24 hours.
After a period of widespread record-breaking warmth on Tuesday, temperatures across portions of the Plains and Midwest have plummeted nearly 50 to 60 degrees into the 40's and 50's Wednesday morning thanks to a polar cold front.
The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center called the powerful front "a stark reminder that meteorological Winter is still with us for two more days."
Meanwhile, temperatures in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are getting a boost from a low pressure system moving east from the Upper Great Lakes. Ahead of the front, southerly wind will bring warm temperatures of 10 to 25 degrees above average, the NWS said.
The front is also expected to create showers and thunderstorms from the Central Gulf Coast to the Northeast on Wednesday, along with light to moderate snow.
"In the wake of the front, moderate to heavy snow will develop over the Great Lakes into the Northeast, with light to moderate snow over the Central Appalachians on Wednesday," the Weather Prediction Center said. "In addition, on Thursday, lake-effect snow will develop downwind from the Great Lakes, ending by Thursday night."
Elsewhere, a strong winter storm is continuing to impact the West with heavy mountain snow exceeding three inches per hour, strong winds and coastal rain expected through Friday. Another system moving into the Southwest is expected to produce scattered showers, thunderstorms, and higher-elevation snow from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday, the NWS said.