Extreme Arctic Outbreak Sweeps Across Lower 48, Plunging Temperatures to Historic Lows
A bitter Arctic outbreak has engulfed the Lower 48, resulting in record-breaking low temperatures and wind chills as cold as minus-70 degrees. Major cities like Chicago and Kansas City have struggled to reach above zero degrees for several days. At one point, 30 states were under wind chill advisories or warnings. Now, another wave of bone-chilling air is set to descend southward, causing temperatures to plummet once again.
Where is this frigid air coming from?
According to weather models, this air mass originates from extreme northern Nunavut, Canada, which is nearly at the same latitude as northern Greenland. In other words, it is straight out of the high Arctic. As a result, temperatures are expected to drop to 40 degrees below the seasonal average.
How long will the cold last?
The Arctic chill will persist until early Sunday before a sudden and dramatic warm-up occurs, causing temperatures to spike. By the start of the workweek, regions such as the Great Lakes, Plains, and Ohio Valley will experience temperatures that are 10 or more degrees above average. This unseasonable mildness will continue throughout most of January.
The cold returns
Arctic high pressure is descending from British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. This high-pressure system occurs because cold air is dense and heavy. It will bring clearing skies but dangerously low temperatures. With minimal cloud cover to trap heat, overnight temperatures will plummet even further.
The impact of wind chill advisories
Wind chill advisories extend from the Dakotas and the Northwest Angle of Minnesota all the way south to Fayetteville, Arkansas. The presence of fresh snowpack in many areas will exacerbate the cold air, making it feel even colder than it actually is. The National Weather Service in Glasgow, Mont., warns that frostbite could occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, with wind chills dipping to the minus-35 to minus-40 degree range.
The spread of cold temperatures
The northern Rockies and Plains will experience the cold until Friday, after which it will reach the Tennessee Valley, Texas, and parts of the South by Saturday. By Sunday, the Arctic high will weaken and shift east, resulting in a warming southerly flow across most of the country.
How cold will it get?
Over the next three days, subzero temperatures will prevail across the central United States. On Friday morning, lows of minus-20 to minus-30 degrees will be common in Montana, while Wyoming and parts of Nebraska, the Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, and western Wisconsin will experience negative teens. The zero-degree line may extend as far south as Kansas City. Already, records have been broken with temperatures of minus-12 and minus-16 degrees recorded at the airport on Sunday and Monday morning, respectively.
Friday night will bring even colder temperatures as the Arctic high settles across the nation’s heartland. Minus-7 degrees is expected in Kansas City, with negative teens being common in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Some areas along Interstate 29 in eastern South Dakota and Nebraska, as well as western Iowa, may even reach minus-20. Omaha could see temperatures as low as minus-18 on Saturday morning. The Weather Service cautions that these extreme cold temperatures can pose a danger to life and property.
Preparing for the cold
The National Weather Service advises individuals to insulate pipes, seal windows to prevent heat loss, keep a slow steady stream of water running from indoor faucets, and open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.
The frigid air reaches the East Coast
The East Coast will also experience freezing highs that are 10 to 20 degrees below normal. From Northern Virginia to Maine, temperatures will hover in the teens, with Saturday being slightly colder than Sunday. Wind chills will dip into single digits as far south as Atlanta and reach minus-10 to minus-20 in the interior Northeast on Saturday morning.
A sudden thaw
On Monday, a sudden thaw will occur from Montana to Wisconsin as Arctic high pressure moves eastward, bringing warm air northward. Highs in the mid-30s to lower 40s will be common across the Corn Belt and central Plains. However, the northern Plains will still remain below freezing. This sudden thaw may contribute to flooding in areas with a remaining snowpack, particularly in northern Kansas and Arkansas. Thereafter, the Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service suggests a significant warm-up, with temperatures up to 30 degrees above average in Minnesota.
In conclusion, an extreme Arctic outbreak has caused historic lows in temperatures across the Lower 48. The cold air mass originated from the high Arctic and is expected to persist until early Sunday before a sudden warm-up occurs. However, another wave of cold air is set to return, bringing with it dangerously low temperatures. It is crucial for individuals to take precautions and protect themselves from the harsh conditions.
