Arctic Chill Set to Bring Subzero Temperatures Nationwide

An Arctic cold front is expected to move across the United States, bringing unprecedented low temperatures and perilous wind chills that are anticipated to last through the upcoming week, according to meteorologists.

This forthcoming cold wave signifies the tenth occurrence this winter where the polar vortex has shifted southward, as noted by Judah Cohen, the seasonal forecast director at Atmospheric and Environmental Research. “In a typical winter, this phenomenon occurs maybe two or three times,” Cohen stated.

This winter has brought extreme weather across the nation, ranging from unusual snowfall in New Orleans to catastrophic wildfires in Southern California.

The occurrence of multiple polar vortexes—usually limited to the Arctic region—this winter is remarkable, as highlighted by Ryan Maue, a private meteorologist and former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

“Conditions are perfectly aligned; the atmospheric wind patterns are pulling polar air out of the Canadian Arctic,” Maue explained. “This is the height of winter. All indicators point to intensely harsh winter cold.”

The frigid Arctic air is set to first affect the northern Rockies and northern Plains by Saturday and will gradually expand across the majority of the continental United States. By next week, forecasts suggest that 89 percent of the contiguous United States will see temperatures dip below freezing, with 27 percent potentially falling below zero degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service.

According to Maue’s projections, the average low temperature across the Lower 48 states could plunge to a frigid 14 degrees Fahrenheit by Wednesday.

The central United States is likely to face the most intense effects of this cold front. Zack Taylor, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, indicated that Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa may encounter the lowest temperatures, with potential drops of 35 degrees Fahrenheit below the seasonal average. He also noted the possibility of accompanying storms that could lead to flooding and significant snow.

Weather forecasts from NOAA suggest sub-zero temperatures in states such as Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, Iowa, Wyoming, and Montana.

Wind chill factors are expected to exacerbate the already severe conditions. The National Weather Service anticipates that nearly every state, with the exceptions of Hawaii, California, and Florida, will experience wind chills of 20 degrees or less at some stage next week.

Cohen clarified that a specific form of polar vortex activity known as “stretching” differs from the well-known sudden stratospheric warming phenomena. In a stretching event, the polar vortex remains whole but extends farther south, often affecting the United States more than Europe.

The increased frequency of these stretching events this winter has attracted the interest of climate scientists. Laura Ciasto, a NOAA meteorologist specializing in the polar vortex, pointed out that while the current conditions are “noteworthy,” they are “not without precedent.”

This report also includes contributions from The Associated Press.