Frigid Arctic Air Expanding Farther South and East on Monday

As predicted for days, Arctic air has invaded the eastern half of the nation heading into the new week. Here is the latest on these frigid temperatures, including when the more seasonable readings will return.

Latest on the Deep Freeze Encompassing the Eastern U.S.

The mass of cold that infiltrated the northern and central Plains to close out the weekend is marching to the east and south as the new work week begins. The influx of Arctic air is diving down from Canada and creeping as far as the Gulf Coast. Several areas of the Great Lakes were picking up accumulating snowfall as part of the winter weather pattern. For example, Chicago was put under a winter storm warning as several inches of snow bore down on the Windy City.

The unseasonably cold weather pattern is settling in as a deep plunge in the jet stream across the upper levels of the atmosphere brings down the mass of Arctic air from the north. The result is the coldest air since early last spring for much of the region. The resulting hard freeze will put an end to the growing season.