The polar vortex has once again made its presence known in the United States, unleashing bone-chilling temperatures that are putting millions of Americans at risk of frostbite. As reported by the FOX Forecast Center, frigid arctic air is sweeping across the Lower 48 states, causing temperatures to plunge to 30-40 degrees below the usual averages for this time of year. This icy weather pattern seems to be settling in for the long haul, with a deep freeze expected to linger until the end of the month, according to the experts at the FOX Forecast Center.
The harshest cold is forecasted to hit the north-central U.S., with wind chills plummeting as low as -60 degrees in parts of the Dakotas, Montana, and Minnesota. National Weather Service offices all over the country have issued Cold Weather Advisories and Extreme Cold Warnings for over 86 million Americans, spanning from the U.S.-Canada border down to Deep South Texas. These regions are bracing for dangerously low wind chills that may persist until Wednesday morning, with real-feel temperatures nearing a bone-chilling 60 degrees below zero across the north-central U.S.
Under these severe conditions, frostbite can set in within minutes on any exposed skin. The situation may worsen as record lows become a possibility across the Plains by Wednesday, potentially breaking morning low temperature records in numerous cities. Metropolitan areas in the Plains, such as Kansas City, Missouri, are facing the prospect of subzero temperatures.
The situation becomes even more concerning as the arctic air mass moves southward later in the week, enveloping regions unaccustomed to extreme cold, including vast portions of Texas. Dallas is expected to wake up to a chilly morning with temperatures in the mid-teens on Wednesday, while freezing conditions are projected as far south as Houston and Mobile, Alabama. The FOX Forecast Center is cautioning that parts of Texas could encounter cold conditions reminiscent of the notorious Texas freeze experienced in 2021.
