The eastern two-thirds of the United States is about to experience a hard freeze ahead of Christmas due to a blast of Arctic air that meteorologists have been tracking since last week.
Some locations will see the coldest weather in decades, and heating needs will soar.
Freezing Cold
Areas from the northern Rockies to the Plains, East and South, are predicted to see subfreezing and, in some cases, subzero temperatures, according to AccuWeather report.
At its coldest, the temperature may fall by 25 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit from late-December norms.
According to Meteorologist Elizabeth Danco, "the Arctic air can cover most of the central and eastern section of the country just ahead to the holiday weekend, threatening the coldest pre-Christmas stretch in decades."
In the aftermath of an intense and protracted storm system that unleashed days of blizzard conditions during the second part of last week, frigid air has been in place throughout the northern Plains since the weekend.
Old Man Winter will step things up a notch when the strongest Arctic airburst to hit North America this season rushes Southeast.
Meteorologist Matt Benz stated that the region severely affected by blizzard conditions "will now have to deal with another outbreak of severe cold."
Temperature Drop
Temperatures will drop well below zero by the middle of the week as a reinforcing blast of Arctic air arrives.
In certain parts of Montana or North Dakota, temperatures might fall as low as 30 to 40 degrees below zero, comparable to the extreme cold spells in 1983 and 1989.
In a large portion of the northern and eastern United States, records from the cold outbreaks during those years continue to set the benchmark for cold weather making it a White Christmas.
In contrast to December, "the cold burst" in cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, and Des Moines will be more characteristic of January or February, according to Benz, who also noted that the Arctic air's sustained duration would be noticeable.
The worst cold is predicted to hit these locations on Thursday and Friday as holiday travel picks up speed.
According to analysts, it will be plain hazardous for anyone who does not have enough warm clothing or appropriate shelter to stay outside for even a short period of time when you take into account high winds from a massive storm that is anticipated to develop before Christmas.
During the latter part of the week, icy weather will spread south and east, sending folks from Dallas to Little Rock, Arkansas, Nashville, and Atlanta shivering ahead of the holiday weekend.
In some cities, overnight temperatures can fall as low as the high single digits or teens.
According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger, "near-freezing temperatures could potentially endanger crops in deep southern Texas around Hanukkah and Christmas."
With highs in the 20s in the interior and the 30s throughout much of the Gulf coast, Friday and Saturday are expected to be the coldest days in the Southeast.
Gusty winds will make the temperatures seem considerably colder.
Hard freezes are possible along the Interstate 20 and 10 corridors, according to Deger, who also recommended that travelers leaving for the holidays take precautions to avoid frozen pipes and water damage.
Even though the region will get a wake-up call after a fairly pleasant first half of December, temperatures may moderate for Christmas next Sunday.
Cold Air
According to meteorologists from AccuWeather, the chilly air is expected to rush into the Northeast late on Friday or early on Saturday.
While it won't be as cold as the Rockies and Plains states, scientists predict that the whole area will experience extreme cold.
It is anticipated to be a colder Christmas than in recent years in many regions of the East, according to Deger, even if the consequence is slightly less severe as the air mass approaches the Atlantic coast.
Related Article: Experts Share Tips on How to Protect Pipes From Freezing During Winter Season
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