Urgent Weather Warning for 235 Million Americans as ‘Life-threatening’ Polar Vortex Will Bring Brutal Winds of -50F
An urgent warning has been issued to 235 million Americans as a ‘life-threatening’ polar vortex will drop temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius.
The bitter cold will hit Monday and last through Wednesday, impacting regions from the Gulf Coast to New England, the Great Lakes and the Midwest.
It’s already so cold in Washington DC today that President Donald Trump’s inauguration has been moved indoors.
Meteorologists warned that the freezing temperatures will put extra strain on heating systems and electricity grids, force schools to close and pose a high risk of frostbite, hypothermia and effects on the immune system.
At the same time, a rare winter storm will also hit, covering the southern US in snow and ice.
Winter Storm Enzo is expected to impact states along the Gulf Coast, including southern parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, as well as the Florida Panhandle, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Snow and ice will develop in Texas and Louisiana Monday evening before spreading eastward across the South.
The storm is expected to create hazardous travel conditions in the affected region, including in coastal areas where winter weather is rare.
A “rare” winter storm will blanket the southern U.S. in snow and ice, while temperatures will plummet to record lows across the East this winter. Florence, KY; January 6, 2025
When Winter Storm Enzo moves south tonight, it will bring a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to southern Texas and Louisiana, especially near and south of Interstate 20 to the Gulf Coast, according to the Weather Channel.
Multiple metropolitan areas will be affected Monday evening, including Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi and Galveston in Texas, as well as New Orleans and Alexandria in Louisiana.
The storm will gain strength on Tuesday, with moderate to major impacts from eastern Texas to southern Mississippi, including Houston and New Orleans.
“Closions, hazardous travel, power outages and other infrastructure disruptions are possible,” the Weather Channel reported.
One to five inches of snow could accumulate from southeastern Texas to Louisiana and southern Mississippi, with locally higher totals forecast in parts of both states.
“Where bands of heavier snowfall develop, we could see higher totals of up to a half-foot, especially in southern Louisiana and southeastern Texas,” the Weather Channel reported.
Enzo will then spread snow and ice eastward along the Gulf Coast, reaching parts of Alabama and Georgia, the Florida Panhandle and the Carolinas, delivering one to three inches of snow by Tuesday evening.
In general, areas north of Interstate 10 can expect snow, while locations south of this highway should see a wintry mix.

Winter Storm Enzo is expected to impact states along the Gulf Coast, including southern parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, as well as the Florida Panhandle, according to the National Weather Service (NWS)

By Wednesday, the storm will have blanketed much of the South with several inches of snow and brought rain to most of Florida and the southern tip of Texas.
And from the Florida Panhandle to the South Carolina coast, as well as into southern Texas, accumulating ice could drop tree limbs and make roads slippery.
In areas immediately along the Gulf Coast, wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour are possible, which could topple tree limbs and cause visibility problems due to blowing snow.
The storm’s impact could spread north toward Interstate 20, but meteorologists are currently unsure of its extent. It is possible that hazardous travel conditions will extend into Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, but this remains to be seen.
The storm will be mostly over by Wednesday morning, but some snow and ice may remain in northeastern Florida and the coast of the Carolinas.
‘Life-threatening’ cold temperatures generated by a polar vortex will fuel Winter Storm Enzo, bringing potentially record-breaking cold to the South and the rest of the eastern US. AccuWeather reports this.
States within Enzo’s path could experience wind chills of 10F to 30F, increasing the chance of snowfall in the South.
But the core of this cold will hit the Midwest, arriving in parts of the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin Monday and Monday evening.
During the day on Monday, actual temperatures in these areas will be below zero, while nighttime temperatures could drop to -20F to -30F.

Meanwhile, another blast of Arctic air is heading toward the eastern US. Meteorologists have warned 235 million Americans from the Gulf Coast to New England, the Great Lakes and the Midwest to brace for ‘life-threatening’ cold weather

The core of this cold will hit the Midwest, arriving in parts of the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin Monday and Monday evening, AccuWeather reported.
The cold will last all week, straining energy supplies as residents fight to keep their homes and businesses warm, AccuWeather reported.
Arctic air will continue to spread into the Great Lakes, East Coast and Gulf Coast on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Northern New England and New York, as well as western Pennsylvania, should see wind chills between -20F and -10F by Tuesday morning, with daytime temperatures only rising as high as the upper teens in cities like Philadelphia.
Much of this brutal cold will be driven by gusty winds that could cause temperatures to drop well below zero.

Northern New England and New York, as well as western Pennsylvania, should see pleasant temperatures between -20F and -10F by Tuesday morning, with daytime temperatures only rising as high as the upper teens. New Jersey; January 21, 2024

Much of this brutal cold will be driven by gusty winds that could cause temperatures to drop well below zero, according to AccuWeather. Cincinnati, OH; January 6, 2025

The risk of cold-related illnesses such as frostbite, hypothermia and effects on the lungs or immune system will be high as a result of these bitterly cold winds. New York, NY; January 8, 2025
“In areas with windy conditions, such as much of the Midwest early this week, AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures could reach minus 40 to minus 50,” said senior meteorologist Adam Douty.
“It will feel brutally cold, and anyone adventuring outside could suffer frostbite to exposed skin within minutes,” he added.
The risk of cold-related illnesses such as frostbite, hypothermia and effects on the lungs or immune system will be high in areas affected by these bitterly cold winds.
Experts recommend staying indoors as much as possible when it is so cold outside. But if you have to be outside for extended periods of time, you should take extra measures to protect yourself from the life-threatening temperatures.
That includes making sure all of your skin is covered, wearing multiple layers of clothing, and taking breaks indoors to warm up whenever you can.