A fresh surge of Arctic air has intensified an already frigid December across much of the United States, driving temperatures well below normal in the Midwest, Northeast and parts of the South, while forecasters say some relief could arrive later this week.
The latest cold blast pushed into the Central Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes over the weekend and is spreading through much of the East and South early this week. In several areas, temperatures dropped more than 30 degrees below seasonal averages, with subzero readings reaching farther south than usual.
In the Midwest, bitter cold and strong winds combined to create dangerous wind chills. Subzero morning lows were reported as far south as Indiana, central Illinois and northern Missouri, with similar conditions possible again Monday morning. Wind chills in those areas dipped well below zero, prompting warnings to limit time outdoors.
The Northeast is also enduring harsh conditions. High temperatures on Monday were expected to struggle to rise above freezing from Boston to Washington, D.C., with interior areas remaining colder. In Washington, a forecast high near 30 degrees could approach a record for the coldest high temperature on that date. Overnight lows across the region are expected to range from the teens inland to the low 20s along the Interstate 95 corridor.
Cold air has extended deep into the South as well. Many areas of the Deep South are seeing highs only in the 40s, with widespread lows in the 20s. Freezing temperatures are forecast as far south as the northern Gulf Coast and parts of northern Florida. Gusty winds are adding to the chill, sending wind chill values into the teens or single digits in some southern locations.
Climate data show how unusual the start of December has been. Several cities in the Great Lakes and Eastern U.S. have recorded one of their 10 coldest first 10 days of December on record, including New York’s JFK Airport, Roanoke, Virginia, and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Forecasters say temperatures should begin to rebound by Tuesday, with a gradual warmup continuing through midweek across much of the country. While another brief push of cold air is possible later this week from the northern Plains to the Northeast, longer-range outlooks suggest a shift in the pattern. Computer models indicate the persistent cold may retreat into Canada by late next week, potentially bringing milder conditions heading into the Christmas period.
Source: The Weather Channel