Millions of people across the U.S. will experience subzero or below-average temperatures in the coming days as a polar vortex coming from Siberia will usher in a new cold front.
The Rockies, northern Plains, and Upper Midwest will bear the brunt of these extreme weather conditions, with expected wind chills so cold as to pose a significant risk of hypothermia and frostbite to exposed skin, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
But bone-chilling temperatures are expected to reach as far as the South and the mid-Atlantic.
Why It Matters
The polar vortex could bring life-threatening weather conditions to some of the worst-hit areas, as well as record-breaking low temperatures. For many Americans, next week will be yet another cold week in an already unusually cold January.
Millions in areas under extreme cold warnings and watches should avoid going outdoors, especially in the coldest parts of the day, dress warmly and wear layers if they do, making sure not to leave their skin exposed.
What To Know
A polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air which spins over the North and South poles, according to a definition by the NWS. While the vortex is always present near the poles, it weakens in summer and strengthens in winter, often expanding and sending cold air southward.
This is what's going to happen this weekend and next week, according to meteorologists, with the polar vortex plunging into the northern part of the country on Saturday and moving eastward and southward in the coming days, reaching as far as the upper Florida peninsula.
According to the NWS Weather Prediction Center, the Arctic air will hit the Southern Plains and Ohio Valley on Saturday and will reach the Eastern Seaboard by Sunday night, "producing the coldest air of the season thus far, and in many cases the coldest in several years."
The agency expects temperatures to reach highs ranging from below zero to the single digits in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest by Sunday; between the 20s and 30s in the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley; and in the 40s along the western and central Gulf Coast.
These cold temperatures will spread to the East Coast on Monday, according to the NWS. Overall, about 300 million Americans are expected to be impacted by the vortex.
A map shared by Jeff Berardelli, chief meteorologist at WFLA-TV, on X shows that by Tuesday even some Florida cities will report colder than average temperatures for the season. A temperature of 39 degrees is predicted for Tampa on Tuesday early morning, while Tallahassee will reach 26 degrees.
The lowest temperature in the entire country on Tuesday morning is expected to be reported in Fargo, North Dakota, with -34 degrees, followed by Minneapolis, Minnesota, with -32 degrees.
"Ya'll ready for a full country Arctic press?!" Berardelli wrote on the social media platform, commenting on the map.
What People Are Saying
Meteorologist Ben Noll, who reports for the Washington Post, wrote on X: "Around 30 states and nearly 50 million people could experience temperatures below minus 10 degrees next week as a lobe of the polar vortex moves in."
Around 30 states and nearly 50 million people could experience temperatures below minus 10 degrees next week as a lobe of the polar vortex moves in. pic.twitter.com/5w06durF8k
— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) January 17, 2025NWS Chicago wrote on X: "There's no mild way of saying it. Brutal cold is coming."
Chicago could reach temperatures below zero for 60 consecutive hours, from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday. Only eight times since 1872 Windy City reported subzero highs on at least two consecutive days, according to the agency. The city is expected to face wind chills of -35 to -45 degrees on Wednesday morning, which could be life-threatening.
What's Next
Forecasters expect the lowest temperatures to be reached on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. The cold front will begin waning on Friday and die down through next weekend.
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