Major Cold Wave Warning for Late April Into May as Forecasters Compare Pattern to the Destructive 2020 Cold Event
UNITED STATES — A major cold wave is being explicitly warned for late April into May 2026 — and forecasters are comparing it to the damaging cold event of 2020. The warning was posted April 9, 2026 and the temperature anomaly map valid April 24 through May 1, 2026 is now backing it up with a wall of below-normal temperatures covering nearly the entire country.
What the Map Shows for Late April Into May
The CMC Ensemble temperature anomaly map, initialized 00z April 16, 2026 and valid for Days 8 through 15 covering April 24 through May 1, shows deep blue anomalies blanketing the entire western and central United States extending through the Great Lakes and into the Northeast.
| Region | Temperature Anomaly |
|---|---|
| Western United States | 7 to 15 degrees below normal |
| Central Plains and Midwest | 5 to 11 degrees below normal |
| Great Lakes and Northeast | 3 to 9 degrees below normal |
| Southeast United States | Near normal to slightly below |
The minimum anomaly on the map reaches 11.7 degrees below normal — a significant departure that would bring late April temperatures feeling more like early March across large portions of the country.
The Frost Threat Is Real
Forecasters are clear — the city will not freeze but frost and near-freezing conditions will be all around. Anyone who has planted spring gardens or tender vegetation during this week’s summer-like warmth needs to be prepared to protect plants when this cold arrives late next week.
The pattern mirrors the SOI crashing and MJO moving into Phase 1 — the same setup that triggered the May 2020 cold wave.
Stay with CabarrusWeekly.com for daily updates on the incoming late April cold wave and frost threat.
