Update on the Latest Arctic Air Invasion as Temperatures Continue to Plummet

Forecasters have been warning for days about a widespread intrusion of Arctic air. Record cold readings will impact a large swath of the central and eastern U.S., presenting life-threatening conditions for millions of Americans. That bitterly cold weather is now knocking on the door in some parts of the U.S. Here is an updated look at when and where the dangerously cold temperatures will strike this week.

Plains and the Midwest

The Plains and the Midwest will be the first areas of the nation to be under the gun for the bitter cold. Some of the temperatures will make the past few weeks of winter seem like child's play. Gusty winds will generate hazardous wind chills for days.

Low temperatures are expected to hover between 15 and 25 degrees below zero in a zone from the Dakotas to the east into Michigan. Note that this is the actual air temperature. Wind chills will be even colder, falling to 35 to 45 degrees below zero in some communities. Parents are being told to prepare for the potential of school cancellations by the end of the week, simply due to the temperatures outside.