Polar Vortex May Bring Life-threatening Cold to the US Next Week

Jan 17 2025 - Views: 13

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Despite a frosty start in areas of the eastern United States on Thursday, most of the country will have warmer weather, with highs up to 20 degrees above average. Enjoy it while you can since it's about to turn brutally cold.

The most powerful blast will hit the north-central US on Friday, the National Weather Service predicted, before sweeping throughout most of the remainder of the country over the weekend.

Arctic air will descend from the northern Rockies and Great Plains, passing across the Gulf Coast and Midwest on Saturday night and the Eastern Seaboard on Sunday night.

Next week's polar vortex will bring intense cold to the US

Next week's polar vortex will bring intense cold to the US

On Thursday, Minneapolis is expected to reach around 34 degrees. On Sunday, the expected maximum temperature is 3 degrees below zero. "Perfect time to hop on a plane and go somewhere south," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. "Like, really, really far south."

The potentially intense cold is the result of a disrupted polar vortex. According to the FOX Forecast Center, a lobe of the polar vortex will migrate south and reach the US this weekend and next week.

"Dangerous to life-threatening wind chills are expected" in North Dakota, with temperatures as low as 40 degrees on Sunday and Monday early, according to the meteorological service. "This increases the danger of hypothermia and frostbite on exposed skin. If you're traveling, some cold-weather outfits.