Arctic breakout to bring cold front, snow to eastern and central US: NPR

The new year brings with it a cold front as several blasts of arctic air are poised to hit much of the US in the first half of January.

“As we round 2024 and into 2025, above-normal warmth in the eastern half of the United States will quickly be replaced by a series of arctic outbreaks… with the coldest air of the season set to take hold next week,” they This is reported by the National Weather Service (NWS). New Year’s Eve.

It predicts Arctic eruption will spread from the northern plains to the south and east in the coming days, leading to “exceptionally high probabilities of below-normal temperatures” across the east of the country into next week.

Below-freezing temperatures are possible as far south as Florida and the Gulf Coast, the NWS says.

NWS defines arctic eruptions as “very cold air masses, typically originating in the Siberian region of Asia, cross the North Pole into Canada and push south and east into the lower United States.” They occur regularly but only push this far down into the southern United States every four to five years; an Arctic outbreak in January 2019 was associated with nearly two dozen deaths and thousands of disrupted flights.

Cold temperatures have already arrived in the northern plains by midweek and are expected to spread south and east through the end of the weekend. Another, more extreme arctic outbreak is expected to bring even colder temperatures to the same areas next week.

Temperatures will be five to 20 degrees colder than normal in a large swath of the country, CNN reports.

It says high temperatures could be near freezing in places like St. Louis and Cincinnati, while single-digit lows are expected in Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. In northern North Dakota, lows could reach 25 minus degrees. Even Orlando, where highs are typically in the low-seventies this time of year, could see them fall to the mid-fifties.

But the question of exactly how cold it will be – and where – is still somewhat up in the air.

Forecasters say there’s a chance the cold spell could bring one the lobe of the polar vortexthe strong band of westerly winds that forms over the North Pole each winter and contains a large pool of extremely cold air. The polar vortex was a key factor in February 2021 cold period that brought record low levels – and broke the power grid – in Texas.

The most recent long-term prospects from the NWS Climate Prediction Center suggests the cold spells could last until at least January 15. All told, the Arctic air could affect more than 250 million people in 40 states, according to AccuWeather.

A weekend storm could add snow and ice to the mix

Areas from the Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic could also see heavy snow and dangerous ice as forecasters warn of a winter storm moves east at the weekend.

Forecasters say it could impact infrastructure and disrupt travel, especially in harder-hit areas across the Appalachians, Ohio Valley, interior Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and interior Northeast.

There is a high chance that areas of the Central Plains and Mississippi Valley will see up to six inches of snow, according to the NWS.

Parts of upstate New York and Pennsylvania is under lake effect warnings through Sunday evening, with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warning that some counties could see up to 3 feet of snow.

“Heavy Lake Effect snow will likely increase totals for areas below the Great Lakes as arctic air pushes south over partially unfrozen waters,” explains the NWS.

Heavy snow, on the other hand, could do the temperatures feel even colderas fallen snow both absorbs and reflects the sun’s rays.

The NWS is also warning of “potentially significant” sleet and rain this weekend in areas farther south: eastern Kansas and the Ozarks, as well as the Tennessee and lower Ohio valleys. It says the southern Appalachians could also see icing Sunday.

How to prepare for a cold schnapps

The NWS advises people prepare yourself and their home for the cold before it comes.

It recommends that you stock enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last three days; updating your first aid kit; gathering your warmest clothes and blankets; keep your phone charged and check for wireless emergency alerts.

People and pets should minimize their time outdoors and take precautions when going outside.

Once inside, people should insulate their pipes if possible, open sinks to expose the pipes to heated air, and disconnect their hoses and sprinklers to prevent their pipes from freezing and explodes.

The NWS also encourages people to do so check in dear and neighbors, especially if they are in groups considered vulnerable: newborns, the elderly, outdoor workers, people with chronic diseases and people without a home.

Here are even more tips from NPR on preparing your car for winter driving, weathering power outages, and protecting your home before and after a winter storm.