New Wave of Arctic Air Presses Into Central and Eastern U.S.

The unseasonably cold weather is not letting up across the U.S. Forecasters are predicting that a large swath of the nation could see some of the coldest temperatures of the season thus far in the days ahead. This is saying a lot, as it has already been an unusually cold start to the winter season for millions of Americans. Here is a closer look at the anticipated timing and impact zone of the next wave of Arctic air.

Fresh Batch of Arctic Air Spilling into the U.S. by the Weekend

A breakdown of the polar vortex will send frigid temperatures spilling down from Canada into the Midwest and interior portions of the Northeast beginning this weekend and persisting into early next week. The cold air has already been building in the northern tier of Canada this week. Forecast models signal that the mass of Arctic air will creep to the southeast and into the central and eastern U.S. by the weekend. The current temperatures in the impacted area in Canada are coming in at 20 to 30 degrees below zero. While the U.S. will not see readings approach this level, the weather pattern will still usher in potentially dangerous cold temperatures across the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest.

Readings are forecast to dip to the coldest temperatures thus far this season for parts of the Midwest, the Tennessee Valley, and the Appalachians. For example, actual air temperatures may struggle to inch up above the zero-degree mark in Minneapolis on Saturday.