The polar vortex is set to make a chilling return to the contiguous United States this week, plunging millions of Americans into frostbite-inducing temperatures that are expected to persist through the coming week. An onslaught of Arctic air is poised to sweep down and blanket the nation in frigid conditions, with temperatures plummeting a staggering 30 to 40 degrees below the seasonal average.
This expansive mass of Arctic air will traverse the country from late this weekend well into the following week, ensuring that temperatures remain significantly below normal levels. Certain regions are anticipated to witness temperatures dropping to 30 to 40 degrees below the usual benchmarks for this time of year. The FOX Forecast Center has indicated that this period of extreme cold is likely to endure until the end of the month.
The most severe impacts of this cold snap are projected to be felt in the north-central United States, particularly in parts of the Dakotas, Montana, and Minnesota, where wind chills could plummet to as low as negative 60 degrees. While record lows may not be reached, the hazardous cold poses a significant risk of frostbite, which can occur within minutes of exposure to the freezing temperatures.
National Weather Service offices throughout the affected regions have issued cold weather advisories for approximately 50 million Americans, with Extreme Cold Warnings in place for North Dakota, northern South Dakota, and central and northwestern Minnesota. These areas are bracing for life-threatening wind chills from Sunday evening through Wednesday morning, with wind chills predicted to reach as low as 60 below zero, presenting conditions where frostbite can rapidly set in.
The Plains states are on track to potentially shatter morning low temperature records by Wednesday, with hundreds of cities facing the imminent threat of record-breaking cold. Major urban centers in the Plains, such as Kansas City, are expected to experience subzero temperatures. The situation is exacerbated as the Arctic air mass descends further into the Deep South later in the week, enveloping regions that are unaccustomed to such extreme cold.
In an alarming forecast, Dallas is predicted to witness morning low temperatures in the mid-teens on Wednesday, with freezing conditions advancing as far south as Houston and Mobile, Alabama. The FOX Forecast Center has issued a caution that parts of Texas could face cold weather on par with the notorious freeze that gripped the state in 2021.
Original article source: Life-threatening cold invades US this week with millions facing subzero wind chills
