A dramatic weather shift jolted the Mid-Atlantic on Thursday, with temperatures plummeting 40 to 50 degrees in just 24 hours. Washington, D.C., which hit 86 degrees Wednesday, saw snow by noon Thursday after dropping to 32 degrees. The extreme swing shattered records and left residents stunned by winter's sudden return.

Meteorologists described the event as highly unusual for the Eastern U.S., though similar whiplash conditions are more common in the Central states. New York experienced its earliest 80-degree day Tuesday before snow fell Thursday. Richmond, Virginia, dropped from 87 degrees Wednesday afternoon to 32 degrees at the same time Thursday, marking the largest 24-hour temperature swing in regional records dating to 1948.

The volatile pattern reflects March's reputation for unsettled weather nationwide. While the East Coast faced snow and freezing temperatures, tornadoes swept the Midwest and Plains Tuesday, and a major storm approached Hawaii. Meanwhile, the West Coast braced for a building heat wave with record-breaking temperatures expected from Los Angeles to Phoenix.