Temperatures are expected to plummet up to 50 degrees in the Northeast this Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend is widely celebrated as the unofficial launch of the summer season. Millions of New Englanders traditionally celebrate by uncovering pools, firing up grills and heading to regional beaches. However, nature is about to pull a dramatic bait-and-switch.

Following a record-breaking spring heatwave that saw temperatures soar into the 90s, AccuWeather meteorologists warn that an aggressive cold front is sweeping down from Canada and the Midwest. The result will be a staggering plunge that's about to drop temperatures in the Northeast by 25 to 50 degrees just as the long weekend begins.

For many communities, the atmospheric shift will be swift and jarring. In inland areas, temperatures that peaked near 90°F on Monday will sharply trend downward, struggling to climb past the 60s later in the week, and potentially hovering near a raw 50°F by Saturday.

Along the coast, where AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures previously breached the 90s and 100s, residents will feel a dramatic cooldown. Beachgoers from New England down to the Delmarva Peninsula will experience highs running 5 to 15 degrees below historical averages. Instead of swimsuits and sunscreen, packing lists for the coast will require heavy sweatshirts and windbreakers.

"Not only may cool-weather-sensitive individuals be reaching for jackets, but even some hardy cool-weather fans may feel the need for long sleeves," notes AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.

This latest plunge caps off an unusually chaotic spring. The persistent pattern of major temperature swings has already wreaked havoc on local agriculture, forcing plants to endure a turbulent cycle of record heat, hard freezes and leaf-withering humidity. While most southern New England farmers will thankfully escape a holiday frost, the risk remains alive for northern New York and northern New England, where the average last frost date is still weeks away. Nighttime lows across the region will bottom out in the chilly upper 30s to upper 50s.

Compounding the cold is a plume of rain forecast to spread across the region late in the week. Saturday carries the greatest risk for damp outdoor disruptions, threatening to impact travel, local parades and backyard gatherings from Boston down to New York City and Washington, D.C. While the incoming moisture may provide minor relief to localized drought conditions, it will undoubtedly force holiday revelers to pivot to their indoor backup options.