Winter isn’t over yet! A polar vortex is bringing subzero winds, frigid temperatures, and possibly snow to the U.S., including snowbird states like Florida. National weather agencies and meteorologists are warning folks of a "shivering weather pattern" that’s forecasted to go into effect tomorrow and linger through next week. So, if you had plans to get outside this weekend, you might want to cancel and curl up in front of the fireplace instead. Keep reading to see how your region will be affected.
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Temperatures are expected to drop as low as -3 by Sunday.
A strong blast of Arctic winds will wreak havoc on much of the country over the weekend, with many states experiencing a dramatic drop in temperatures between today and Sunday. According to Fox Weather, today’s high of 37 degrees and 34 degrees in Chicago and Minneapolis, respectively, will plummet to 12 degrees and -3 degrees by Sunday. Oklahoma City’s balmy 61 degrees will drop to 29 degrees, while Memphis will see a 25-degree difference in temperatures from now and the weekend.
The polar vortex will travel across the Plains and Upper Midwest Friday night and Saturday before hitting the rest of the Midwest, South, and Northeast on Sunday, reports The Weather Channel. Most regions will experience a "cold snap" anywhere from 15 to 30 degrees below average for their area.
Furthermore, the National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting “dangerously cold wind chills” of -30 degrees in the Rocky Mountains, northern Plains, and Upper Midwest on Saturday. Winds will reach the southern Plains and Ohio Valley by Sunday night.
There’s also a potential for snowfall. In fact, the stretch from Washington D.C. to Boston may get enough accumulated snow to warrant shoveling and plowing, warns The Washington Post. This will create the perfect storm for an icy Monday morning, should temperatures dip well into the teens and single digits as forecasted.
Subzero wind chills will carry into early next week.
This weekend’s plunge of Arctic air is setting the stage for what is forecasted to be an extremely windy, bone-chilling week ahead. The Weather Channel anticipates some regions seeing “their coldest lows of winter so far.” Temperatures in Chicago, Denver, Detroit, and Pittsburgh will likely dip below zero, while Minneapolis is gearing up for double-digit subzero temps.
Come Tuesday, East Coast metro cities, including New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia, will hover around single digits. Meanwhile, low 20s and teens are expected in Nashville, Dallas, and Atlanta.
On Wednesday, the Upper Midwest and East Coast will feel like an ice chamber thanks to wind chills of -30 degrees to -40 degrees. The Washington Post says this could cause temperatures to dip as low as -10 degrees to -20 degrees.
Meteorologists say there’s "no escaping" this Arctic storm.
If you’re hoping a trip down South may save you from the polar vortex, you’d be wrong.
"These are the types of weather systems that even bring cold air to Florida," said Fox Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin in a report. "You know, there’s only maybe one or two times a year where we get a chunk of arctic air that really invades the country and gets all the way down to the Gulf Coast. This is one of those. So, if you’re a snowbird, you like to escape down to the South – there’s no escaping this. Everyone will feel it."
The Washington Post estimates that more than 105 million Americans—representing around 40 states–will be affected by subzero temperatures in the coming days.
