An icy Arctic air current is expected to hit eastern parts of the US over Thanksgiving, and the cold weather could well stick around.
Meteorologists predicted the Arctic outbreak will first arrive in the northern Rockies and northern Plains Thursday through Friday, then advance south and east through much of the Plains and Midwest this weekend.
In these regions, temperatures could drop to -30 to -40°F.
The latest forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) also showed colder temperatures spreading into the southern and eastern US over the holidays, with some parts seeing low temperatures in the 20s this weekend.
An Arctic outbreak occurs when an extremely cold air mass crosses the North Pole into Canada and moves southeastward into the US.
The air mass generally originates from Siberia and causes temperatures to drop in the eastern states.
According to Weather.com, nearly 200 million Americans will wake up to freezing temperatures by Saturday morning.
“Hazardous wind chill temperatures are expected with significant extended snow impact on the lake, possibly downwind of the Great Lakes. Severe thunderstorms may be possible in the Southeast,” NWS officials said.
Such conditions significantly increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite on exposed skin. Travelers are advised to bring a winter survival kit if travel is unavoidable.
An icy Arctic air current is expected to sweep across the eastern US this weekend and early next week, and the cold weather could well stick around
Overall, weekend temperatures in many locations will be more typical for mid-January, the NWS station in Mount Holly, New Jersey said in a message on X.
It will be especially cold in the American Heartland, where temperatures are expected to be the coldest since February, according to the NWS.
Minimum wind chill temperatures are expected to drop below 0°F across much of the Northern Plains and upper Midwest.
In parts of the Dakotas, wind chills are forecast to dip below -15°F, while some areas will see temperatures as low as -30 to -40°F.
These conditions increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite on exposed skin.
The NWS has advised vacation travelers to bring a winter survival kit and only travel if absolutely necessary.
Daytime high temperatures could remain below freezing in parts of the northern U.S., including the Great Lakes, the Northeast and the Ohio Valley, said Cory Baggett, a meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center . USA TODAY on Monday.
Most of the states affected by this Arctic outbreak are unlikely to see snow. But in the Great Lakes region, this cold airflow could lead to several feet of lake-effect snowfall
Overnight lows could dip into the teens, and the wind chill will make temperatures feel even colder, he added.
As for the southern states, this wintry weather is bad news for some farmers.
“We are concerned about low overnight temperatures reaching the Gulf Coast and northern parts of Florida, where citrus crops may be vulnerable,” Baggett said.
‘Despite the unseasonably cold temperatures, we are not currently expecting widespread record-breaking cold temperatures. That said, this will likely be the coldest air of the season so far.”
Temperatures in the eastern US will reach their lowest point this weekend and early next week.
But it will take some time before temperatures return to normal. Below-average temperatures may persist from December 3 to December 9 or longer, especially in the Mid-Atlantic states.
Most of the states affected by this Arctic outbreak are unlikely to see snow. But in the Great Lakes region, this cold airflow could lead to several feet of lake-effect snowfall.
AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok told USA TODAY that enough snow could fall in Western New York that it would close roads and cause delays at airports, potentially disrupting holiday travel.
Meanwhile, western states recovering from the recent bomb cyclone and atmospheric river will see much-needed warm, dry weather.