Daily briefing: Lake effect snow for the Great Lakes

As low pressure sends cold air deep into the South, lake effect snow gets underway across the Great Lakes. This, along with our tropical update, is available at 5 a.m. ET in our daily briefing.

Winter has arrived —at least temporarily —across much of the eastern half of the country, with well-below-average temperatures stretching from the Great Lakes to Florida. The combination of cold air and airflow across the comparatively warmer waters of the Great Lakes will produce multiple bands of lake-effect snow.

Snow totals will vary, but up to a foot of accumulation is possible across the snowbelt regions. The Northeast will see chilly rain, while a dusting of snow likely across the Appalachians.

Cold air is another key component of today's weather story. Arctic air will keep highs in the 30s from the Great Lakes to the South. Cities like Birmingham, Ala., Tupelo, Miss., Athens, Ga., Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Tallahassee, Fla., may see record low highs today.

The western half of the country will see warmer and more tranquil weather. A few showers are possible in the Pacific Northwest, otherwise, it will be dry and warmer-than-average for much of the West. Temperatures in Phoenix and Los Angeles will be near 80, while Denver will see highs in the low-70s.

Tropical activity is not expected over the next several days. We continue to monitor the tropics as the Atlantic Hurricane Season lasts until November 30.

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