A powerful storm system is kicking off the week with turbulent weather, delivering stormy conditions and even an early taste of winter to parts of the Great Lakes and Northeast. Meanwhile, a national mix of summer heat and fall cooldown will be felt across the country.

On Monday, a strong autumn storm is sweeping across the lower Great Lakes and into the Northeast, bringing widespread rain and gusty winds. In interior parts of the Northeast, especially in higher elevations and during the cooler overnight hours, some snowflakes are possible. Accumulating snow could occur across the highest peaks of the Adirondacks, Green, and White mountains tonight.

This same system is pushing a potent cold front through the eastern half of the U.S., replacing the unseasonably warm weekend temperatures across the Midwest, Tennessee Valley, and Mid-Atlantic with a sharp drop. Cities like Lexington, Ky., Nashville, Tenn., Charlotte, N.C., Richmond, Va., and Memphis, Tenn. may experience temperature drops of up to 20 degrees by Monday morning. This cooling trend is expected to continue through midweek, extending as far south as the Deep South.

West of the Rockies and in Texas, however, an entirely different story is unfolding. Much above-normal temperatures will persist, with the northern High Plains and Rockies seeing highs in the 80s, well above seasonal norms. In Texas, particularly the eastern part of the state, temperatures are expected to soar close to 100 degrees on Monday.

In the tropics, a tropical disturbance is moving the the tropical central Atlantic. It could develop into a depression as it approaches the Greater Antilles this week.

It's never too early to prepare for the winter season! Is your blizzard kit in order?