Historic polar vortex forecast to freeze two thirds of the US this weekend
A brutal blast of freezing Arctic air is about to barrel across a significant part of mainland United States, sending temperatures crashing to levels rarely ever seen in November. By the weekend, the coldest air of the season will be sweeping into the central and eastern states, dragging a seriously deep freeze as far south as Florida. Some areas could see temperatures plunge by up to 30°F below normal, with the chill settling in from Sunday through Tuesday. It’s set to be a serious shock to the system after a pretty mild start to the month. (Picture: REUTERS)
Satellite data already shows what’s on the horizon. Two deep low pressure systems are churning over the Atlantic and Pacific, while an Arctic cold pool builds over Canada. That icy dome will move south by Friday, pulled down by a classic weather pattern that sees warm air locked in the West and freezing air flooding the East. The result will be a textbook temperature split, with record lows for much of the US as the cold digs in and ruins millions of people’s much-awaited weekend plans. (Picture: wxcharts)
The first signs of the shift will likely arrive on Friday night, when a strong high pressure block forms over western Canada. This will force a northerly flow to develop, sending cold air surging south into the Midwest and Great Lakes. By Saturday, the chill will be unmistakable and gloves and scarves will need to come out of the closet as a frontal system develops and begins moving east. Behind it, the true Arctic air pours in, turning rain to snow across northern states and setting the stage for an early taste of winter. (Picture: Getty Images)
By Sunday, the cold will have gripped the heart of the country. From the Dakotas down to Tennessee, temperatures will tumble 20 degrees to 25°F in just 24 hours. Cities like Joplin, Missouri and Atlanta will feel the change sharply, with readings more typical of December. The upper Midwest and Great Lakes will see daytime highs well below freezing too, while the chill keeps spreading south towards the Gulf. (Picture: GFS)
As the system deepens, snow will begin to pile up around the Great Lakes. Cold, dry air blowing over relatively warm lake waters will trigger heavy lake-effect snow, with some areas facing up to two feet of accumulation by Tuesday morning. Chicago could be in for some seriously snowy squalls on Sunday before the heaviest bands shift east. Meteorologists are warning of blizzard-like bursts and even the odd rumble of the dreaded ‘thundersnow’ as the storm peaks. (Picture: Getty Images)
The cold wave will hit hardest on Monday, when the Arctic air mass reaches its full strength. A powerful high-pressure system over Canada will drive freezing winds deep into the southern states. The Southeast will bear the brunt, with Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas expected to shiver under temperatures 25 – 35°F below normal. For mid-November, that’s a historic drop likely to rewrite a fair few local records. (Picture: Windy.com)
It’s bad news for commuters and early risers too. Morning lows will be pretty punishing. On Sunday, the Upper Midwest, as well as South and North Dakota could well wake to readings in the teens. While much of the central US sees lows in the 20s. Freezing conditions will push into North Texas, Louisiana and central Alabama. By Monday morning, the cold will have spread from the Midwest right through the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and even down into northern Florida, where temperatures could dip into the low 30s. (Picture: Windy.com)
The sheer contrast in temperatures across the country looks likely to be somewhat dramatic. While the Southeast freezes, the western part of the US will bask in warmth. The split will create an extreme weather map, with deep blue cold anomalies dominating the East and fiery reds across the West. It’s the kind of pattern that meteorologists call a ‘dipole’ – and this one looks to be a pretty good example of the phenomenon. (Picture: NOAA)
As the winds ease late on Monday, the chill will settle even more deeply. Clear skies overnight will allow heat to escape, sending temperatures plummeting across the Southeast. Florida, in particular, will feel the bite as the last surge of Arctic air pushes through before dawn on Tuesday. The morning lows are expected to be the coldest so far this autumn, with widespread frost and ice stretching across normally warmer states unaccustomed to neither frost nor snow. (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)
By midweek, the cold will finally start to relax, but not before leaving a hefty mark. The early season freeze will have touched nearly every corner of the eastern United States, from up in the Great Lakes, all the way down to the Gulf. With daytime highs struggling to climb above freezing for days – and lake-effect snow burying some towns – the message from the atmosphere is clear: winter has arrived early. And it means business… (Picture: Anadolu via Getty Images) Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
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