A perilous Arctic blast looms over the United States, endangering the lives of millions. Meteorologists at AccuWeather warn that bone-chilling cold air will continue its relentless advance across the central United States, intensifying as it moves towards the East by the end of the week. This frigid onslaught is set to strain energy resources and stretch household budgets, with the sheer force of the cold proving to be excruciating, hazardous, and potentially destructive in some instances.
On Tuesday, actual temperatures struggled to surpass zero degrees Fahrenheit across a vast expanse of the northern Plains, plummeting a staggering 20-40 degrees below the historical mid-February averages. As a winter storm blanketed parts of the region with snow and ice, the icy air crept southwards across the Great Plains. The unforgiving cold is poised to persist as the winter storm marches eastward on Wednesday, eventually veering towards the Atlantic coast by Thursday.
In the aftermath of the snowstorm in Oklahoma City on Wednesday morning, temperatures hovered just above zero degrees Fahrenheit. However, the biting AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures dipped to nearly 30 degrees below zero, transforming the landscape into a scene reminiscent of the Arctic Tundra, rather than central Oklahoma, due to blowing snow and drifts.
Exposure to the frigid air, especially when coupled with any breeze, can result in perilous AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures, posing a significant risk of frostbite and hypothermia, particularly for those inadequately dressed or with exposed skin. The penetrating cold is expected to seep into regions of the South Central and Southeast states, heightening the threat of frozen pipes and water mains bursting.
Cities like Pittsburgh, while not squarely in the icy grip, have not seen temperatures rise above freezing since late Sunday afternoon, and may not do so until Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, the typical high temperature in Steel City hovers near the 40-degree mark.
Despite the substantial ice cover on the Great Lakes, certain ice-free areas remain susceptible to bands of heavy lake-effect snow.
Gradually, the relentless hold of the Arctic air will begin to loosen, starting late in the week over the Plains and extending to the East over the weekend. In areas where the sun shines bright and winds are mild during the day, there may be a brief reprieve, with conditions feeling notably warmer for a few hours.
Although the cold wave is severe, it is not directly linked to the polar vortex. AccuWeather meteorologists diligently monitor a storm near the North Pole, which plays a crucial role in confining the coldest air in the Northern Hemisphere. When the polar vortex weakens or alters its shape, a substantial discharge of cold air can spill into lower latitudes. At times, such as this week, a vast high-pressure system from the Arctic can move southward independently of the polar vortex.
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