Over the
next few days, 220 million people living in the continental US – about 75
percent of Americans – will see temperatures drop below freezing as Arctic air
blasts southward.
“Back to back cold fronts will slice through the eastern two-thirds of the country to deliver one of the coldest arctic air intrusions in recent memory,” writes the National Weather Service (NWS) on its website. "Frigid temperatures and bitterly cold wind chills” will likely result in widespread record lows across much of the country, culminating in a combination of winter storm and wind chill warnings, watches, and advisories across the central part of the country.
It could be
the coldest burst of air in a generation, CNN reports.
“Not only is
brutal cold invading the central parts of the country, accumulating snow and
freezing roadways all the way into the deep south could make travel dangerous
through tomorrow morning,” the NWS wrote yesterday in a Tweet.
There's cold, and then there's COLD! Extreme and dangerous COLD! is forecast this week from the Northern Plains through the Great Lakes with lows in the -30s and -40s and wind chills as low as the -60s Wed-Thu! If you can't stay cozy inside, be sure to cover any exposed skin! pic.twitter.com/dJNpT0qGHs— NWS (@NWS) January 28, 2019
Known as the
polar vortex, the abnormally cold weather system is a result of a change in
wind patterns across northern polar regions. A circulation of strong winds
normally surrounding the northern pole typically moves in a counterclockwise
fashion, locking freezing air in the Arctic parts. This low-pressure system
always strengthens in the winter, at which point it expands and can
occasionally send Arctic air southward. The NWS reminds that although this
phenomenon has gained media attention in recent years, the polar vortex is not
totally new. Notable incidents occurred in 2014, as well as those in 1989,
1987, 1982, and 1977, and it’s not always confined to the US. Asia and Europe
have also experienced dramatic polar vortexes.
Already, the
deadly cold has resulted in two fatalities in the US and, with the coldest
weather yet to come, experts are advising people to stay aware and prepare.
“People exposed to extreme cold are susceptible to frostbite in a matter of minutes. Areas most prone to frostbite are uncovered skin and the extremities, such as hands and feet. Hypothermia is another threat during extreme cold. Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce,” warns the NWS on its website.
You can find
more helpful (and potentially life-saving) information here.
NOAA/NWS
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