Five Biggest Weather Changes Since Thanksgiving

Little Rock, Ark.

Thanks to a powerful plunge of Arctic air, several locations are seeing major changes in their weather since Thanksgiving Day.

First, consider Arkansas' capital. Little Rock's Adams Field hit 77° on Wednesday, a daily record high.

Then comes the Arctic plunge, including a threat of freezing rain or sleet on Friday, followed by lows Saturday morning in the upper teens or near 20 degrees.

To recap, an up to 60-degree plunge – from warmth more typical of late October to a potential icy threat – is expected from Wednesday through Saturday morning.

(FORECAST: Little Rock)

NEXT > California Dreaming?

Los Angeles

The cold plunge won't even spare Southern California.

After kicking off December in the low 80s, daytime highs will struggle to get out of the 50s late this week into the weekend. 

If that doesn't sound cold, consider morning lows plunging into the 30s over much of the L.A. Basin's inland valleys, such as the San Fernando Valley and Inland Empire. Areas such as Santa Barbara and the Antelope Valley may see a freeze!

So much for dreaming of California weather, at least for awhile.

(FORECAST: Los Angeles)

NEXT > Heavy Snow At Last

Duluth, Minn.

For one of the snowiest locations in the Upper Midwest, this fall had gotten off to a slow start.

Through the first of December, Duluth had picked up only five inches of total snow for the season, almost a foot below the season-to-date average.

Then came Winter Storm Cleon. From Dec. 2 to Dec. 4, Duluth picked up over four times the entire season's snow-to-date, measuring more than 23 inches.

In fact, there's even a chance of additional snow early next week from a separate storm system.

NEXT > 70 Degrees of Separation

Lubbock, Texas

Incredible swings are nothing unusual in the southern High Plains. Ahead of southward diving cold fronts, temperatures can swing from spring or summer warmth to frigid cold in the matter of hours.

(MORE: Five Extreme Temperature Drops)

Strong west winds sent temperatures soaring to 77 degrees in Lubbock on Tuesday. By late Wednesday night, the mercury plunged below freezing and may stay there for some time.  

Morning lows Saturday may plunge into the low teens or even single digits, roughly 70 degrees colder than Tuesday's high.

Lubbock should finally warm above freezing again Sunday ahead of the next winter storm to affect areas to their north and east. Then, they go back into the deep freeze until a slow warm-up later next week.

It's no wonder you, our weather.com fans, chose Lubbock as America's Toughest Weather City.

(FORECAST: Lubbock, Texas)

NEXT > A Winter Escape

Gainesville, Fla.

Yes, it may be an off-year for Florida Gator football. But how about the spectacular early December weather!

Thanksgiving morning, you definitely needed a winter jacket, as the pre-dawn low bottomed out in the upper 20s. 

This week, however, it's T-shirt and shorts weather, with daytime highs in the low 80s through the weekend. These are highs typical of either mid-October or mid-April, whichever you prefer.

With rain chances looking minimal until next week, Florida's weather will be the envy of the nation. Check out what we mean by looking at forecast high maps for Saturday and Sunday. You're welcome, Florida tourism!

(FORECAST: Gainesville, Fla.)

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