A fresh wave of Arctic air is set to sweep across the central and eastern United States starting this weekend, plunging temperatures to their coldest levels this winter. Following a brief warm-up in parts of the central U.S., the frigid air will arrive Friday night in the Plains and spread eastward through Tuesday.
Coldest lows of winter expected
- Major cities brace for frigid lows: Minneapolis could see its first double-digit subzero low, while Chicago, Denver, and Pittsburgh might drop below zero for the first time this season.
- Interstate 95 corridor chills: Boston, New York, and Philadelphia may flirt with single-digit lows by Tuesday morning.
- Southern freeze: Even Gulf Coast areas could experience freezing temperatures, with lows in the teens and 20s predicted for much of the South.
Dangerous wind chills forecast
- Severe Plains chill: Wind chills in the Northern Plains and Midwest could reach minus 20 to 40 degrees, posing significant risks of frostbite and hypothermia.
- Widespread subzero conditions: Much of the Northeast will face subzero wind chills by early Tuesday, while single-digit wind chills could extend into the South.
January’s enduring cold pattern
The eastern U.S. has experienced below-average temperatures for most of January, with parts of the Plains, South, and Ohio Valley registering over 5 degrees below normal. As this persistent cold continues into the month’s final weeks, it underscores the season’s harsh winter conditions, despite a lack of widespread record lows.
