The main thrusts of the cold air will aim at the Great Lakes, New England and the northern part of the mid-Atlantic at a time when many people are looking forward to increased outdoor spring activities.
Arctic air to deliver shocking cold, hard freezes to the Upper Midwest and Northeast
The first and most dramatic of the two blasts will roll southeastward from Canada this weekend.
The approach and passage of the leading edge of the cold air will be accompanied by gusty winds. Sunday could bring high winds to much of the Northeast, in addition to plunging temperatures.
"Temperatures in the Northeast will be 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit below normal, which will be the largest negative anomalies since Valentines Day," AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said. "When the wind is factored in, it will feel a whopping 40-60 degrees colder than it will late this week."
Normal highs during the first week of April are in the lower to middle 50s in Minneapolis, Chicago and Boston, the upper 50s in Pittsburgh and New York City and the 60s in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
For MLB interests in Pittsburgh on Sunday, play could be challenging to say the least, due to a combination of wind and cold. Fans heading to PNC Park should dress in warm layers. Actual temperatures will be no higher than the lower 40s.
Highs may be in the 20s and 30s during multiple days from western and northern New York state to central and northern New England. AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures can be 10-20 degrees lower than the actual temperature at times.
A second press of cold air is likely during next week.
The southward extent of the cold will depend upon whether or not a storm strengthens along the Atlantic coast. A strong storm near the coast could pull cold air well to the south in its wake.
It is possible for frost and freezing temperatures on one or two nights as far south as parts of the Tennessee Valley and southern Piedmont areas at the height of the cold air outbreaks.
The penetrating cold could pose a risk for budding and blossoming fruit trees, bushes and vines.
In many cases, budding and blossoming is occurring two to four weeks earlier than last year. For example, the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., reached peak on March 25 this year, compared to April 10, 2015. The average peak bloom date is around April 4, according to the National Park Service.
Snow likely to accompany cold blasts
As the arctic air passes over the open waters of the Great Lakes, rounds of lake-effect snow will erupt.
Typically, by April, lake-effect snow events are insignificant. However, since the air will be much colder than the water, bands of heavy lake-effect snow can set up downwind of the lakes.
"This is the type of setup, where a couple of snow showers could be seen east of the Appalachians to the Interstate-95 corridor of the mid-Atlantic and New England in the depths of the cold air later this weekend into early next week," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams said.
The potential for snow may go beyond lake-effect and spotty snow showers.
A couple of Alberta clipper storms will swing southeastward and could produce periods of steady snow, well away from the traditional lake-effect snow belts.
Spanning Saturday to Sunday (April 2-3), one period of snow may swing from northern Minnesota to New York state, northern Pennsylvania and New England.
The second clipper storm could bring snow for the MLB game on Monday in Cleveland. The second clipper has the potential to strengthen near the Atlantic coast with perhaps more extensive precipitation on Tuesday.
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