This will get the blood flowing

**MDman** · 09-13-2011, 03:08 PM

The First Freeze is Coming

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weath...ing_2011-09-11

The First Freeze is Coming
by Tim Ballisty, Editorial Meteorologist
Updated: September 12, 2011 12:00 am ET

For some areas of the country, the strong hold of summer is finally loosening its grip.

The first significant cold front of the late summer season will make itself known this week.

The refreshingly cold air mass is currently located in the far northern reaches of Canada; in the northern part of the Northwest Territories. But make no mistake, this cold air mass is set to make over a 1500 mile trek into the continental United States.
The First Freeze of the Season

Temperatures on Wednesday night and Thursday morning will be falling to the freezing mark or lower in the Upper Midwest. Enlarge

The first shot of cooler air arrives on Monday across Montana and the Dakotas where temperatures have actually been well-above average recently.

A secondary, more powerful cold front makes its entrance over the northern tier of the U.S. on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

By Thursday morning, the combination of a newly established chilly air mass and clear overnight skies, low temperatures will sink to their lowest levels since the spring.
Cold Front Signals Autumn is Near

Forecast position of the season's first significant cold front on Thursday morning. Image: hpc.ncep.noaa.gov

So cold in fact that some areas of the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin will dip below freezing. Some may think that a freeze by mid-September is way too early but in fact it's right on time. See Average Date of First Freeze

The cold front will not only press into the northern tier of the country. It will forge its way into the central Plains, Midwest, the Northeast and the mid-South. This will yield high temperatures only in the 50s and 60s
across a third of the country on Thursday.
Cold Front Brings Needed Rain

Rain is in the forecast for the parched, drought-stricken areas of Kansas, Oklahoma and the panhandle of Texas. Enlarge

Showers and thunderstorms will develop along the front as it surges south from Monday through Friday.

Although not even close to being a drought buster, the front along with other enabling factors will help produce a decent rainfall midweek over parts of Colorado, eastern New Mexico, northwest Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.