Arctic air hits much of the US, bringing snow to some areas and very
chilly temperatures to Florida
[November 11, 2025]
By SAFIYAH RIDDLE and MIKE SCHNEIDER
Some of this autumn’s coldest weather yet is bearing down on the United
States, enveloping the eastern two-thirds of the country in Arctic air
on Monday and affecting millions of people.
National Weather Service forecasters said the weather could bring record
low temperatures in the U.S. Southeast, including all of Florida, where
parts of the state were near 80 degrees (27 C) just a day ago.
The cold air brought gusty wind and red flag warnings in the Great
Plains on Monday, and forecasters said the Great Lakes and Appalachian
Mountain regions could see 4 inches (10 centimeters) to 8 inches (20
centimeters) of snow.
Around Lake Erie, forecasters warned of possible lake-effect snow, where
copious amounts can fall in relatively narrow bands, drastically
increasing snowfall near the water while leaving other nearby areas
untouched.
Cold weather warnings were issued for Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky,
with freezing temperatures predicted for a large swath farther south,
from Texas and Oklahoma to Alabama and Georgia.
The wintry weather contributed to flight delays across the country,
including four-hour wait times at airports like the busy Chicago O’Hare
International Airport. The cold front compounded the impacts of Federal
Aviation Administration's order to cancel thousands of flights in
response to the federal budget shutdown that has forced air traffic
controllers to work unpaid for over a month. Some have stopped showing
up for work, citing the added stress and need to take second jobs.
Chill could cause falling iguanas in Florida
In Florida, forecasters said wind chills could dip to the 30s (minus 1
C). Whenever it gets that cold in the Sunshine State, many look to the
trees: Iguanas, an invasive reptile species, have previously gone into a
sort of suspended animation and fallen to the ground when temperatures
dip below 40 degrees (4 C). They usually wake up with the sun’s warmth —
although it is unclear whether any of the reptiles will tumble from the
treetops this time.
Across the south, many local governments opened heated shelters for
residents struggling to cope with the cold.
Those resources are invaluable in St. Louis, Missouri, where some people
are still waiting for essential repairs on their houses after a powerful
EF3 tornado ripped through the region in May. City officials announced
Monday that emergency shelters would be open for homeless people as well
as those who still dealing with the aftermath.
Hazardous conditions for road travel
In Tennessee, temperatures dropped to 30 (minus 1 C) into Sunday
morning, and areas with higher elevation in the eastern part of the
state reported that 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of new snow had fallen by
9 a.m., causing some school closures. Snowy roads led to a crash
involving multiple vehicles and about an hourlong shutdown on westbound
Interstate 40 in Putnam County, east of Nashville, the county sheriff’s
office announced.
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Pedestrians cross a street during a cold day in Chicago, Sunday,
Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Further north, as temperatures dropped across the nation’s midsection,
meteorologists warned of hazardous travel conditions through winter
weather advisories for Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. Snow fell Sunday
in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where meteorologists warned of low
visibility and up to a foot (30 centimeters) of snow by Monday.
In Indiana, weather experts predicted up to 11 inches (28 centimeters)
of snow and “slippery surfaces” for road travel. Up to 6 inches (15
centimeters) of snow were predicted in parts of Wisconsin.
“Patchy blowing snow” and wind chills hovering near freezing were
expected in portions of Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota. Some areas
got measurable fluff a day earlier, including 4 inches (10 centimeters)
of snow in southwest Minnesota and more than 5 inches (13 centimeters)
in northern Iowa.
Gardeners, the growing season has now ended
Weather experts issued special guidance for gardeners in the Midwest and
northeast, saying the freeze warning means the growing season has ended.
“Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold,” warned
meteorologists in Arkansas.
Growers of peppers, eggplants, squash and leafy greens in north Florida
were harvesting as much as they could on Monday and preparing irrigation
lines to make sure they don’t freeze up and crack.
South Florida, where most of the state's winter fruits and vegetables
are grown, was expected to be spared any freeze based on the current
forecast. Citrus, Florida’s best-known crop, also was expected to dodge
a hit since citrus trees typically sustain damage only when the
thermometer drops below 28 degrees (minus 2.2 C).
“The freezing temperatures are likely to miss our major growing regions
for fruits and vegetables,” said Christina Morton, a spokeswoman for the
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association.
The cold snap may have a sweet side: As long as temperatures stay above
freezing, some Florida crops such as strawberries and blueberries could
benefit because cool weather enhances their taste and quality, Morton
said.
___
Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Schneider reported from
Orlando, Florida. Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth
contributed reporting from Mission, Kansas.
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