A powerful cold front is moving from the central United States to the U.S. East Coast today (January 30, 2013). Temperatures are plunging, and there is a potential for severe thunderstorms. NASA released the image below, using data from NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite. It shows the U.S. East in the throes of winter weather. In this image, you can see a line of clouds that stretch from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The front is moving east to the Atlantic Ocean.

NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite captured this image of clouds associated with a strong cold front moving through the U.S. East on January 30, 2013 at 1:25 p.m. EST (1825 UTC). Via NASA’s Earth’s Observatory

Meanwhile, the U.S. South is also undergoing severe weather today. A winter tornado pummeled the northwest Georgia town of Adairsville, killing one person, flipping automobiles and destroying buildings. Read more about the January 30 tornado in Georgia

Read what triggered the storms in the U.S. South as the cold front passed through the U.S. East, from EarthSky weather blogger Matt Daniel

Bottom line: NOAA GOES-13 image of severe winter storm pushing across U.S. East on January 30, 2013.

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.