Dangerously cold air jolting the central, eastern half of the United States
AccuWeather forecasters warn that the waves of Arctic air will continue to expand southward across the nation, yielding notably cooler conditions as far south as the Southeast coast throughout this week and into the weekend.
This week, the cold pattern will be periodically rejuvenated as additional shots of energy usher in more brisk Canadian air with temperatures well below the historical average.
Through at least Jan. 15, widespread temperatures 12-25 degrees Fahrenheit below typical early-January values are projected to expand across much of the central and eastern United States.
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"Should the cold wave evolve to its full potential, maximum temperature departures could plunge 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit below the historical average from the northern Plains and Midwest to the interior Southeast through the first two weeks of January," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus.
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This repetitive, chilly pattern can place additional stress on energy usage across a large portion of the nation, especially with some locations remaining below the freezing mark for days and nights for another week or more.
Blowing winds coinciding with the frigid conditions already in place will amplify AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature values, making it feel anywhere from 15-30 degrees lower than the actual temperature.
As the rounds of Arctic air amplify in the wake of large storm systems, so will rounds of lake-effect snow.
Bands of lake-effect persisted last weekend downwind of the Great Lakes, and a similar setup may lead to lake-effect snow falling unusually far away from the waters that triggered the activity.
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Feet of snow can accumulate in these persistent bands near the lakes, while inches of snow can fall in narrow areas dozens of miles to the south and east.
The highly variable conditions can be a nightmare for motorists venturing along major highways such as Interstates 79, 80, 81, 90 and 196. Road surfaces may change from dry to snow-covered in a matter of seconds. Similarly, the visibility may plunge from unrestricted to a few dozen feet in the heaviest lake-effet snow bands.
As far south as the Gulf Coast and Southeast, overnight temperatures this week will begin to drop below the freezing mark for the first time this season.
Residents in New Orleans will be among some locations to notice an abrupt drop in temperature this week after severe storms threaten the region later this weekend.
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As this frigid pattern produces the coldest air of the season across much of the nation, residents will struggle to keep their homes and businesses warm and insulated enough.
Particularly during the overnight periods this week, temperatures across the Central states will drop into the teens and even several degrees below zero at times. At these values, frostbite becomes a serious concern, and anyone who must venture outdoors for a period of time is strongly urged to cover exposed skin.
"Prolonged heating demand, frozen pipes and dangerously low AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures and power outages can all occur this week," warned AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus.
Some locations will begin to notice some signs of improvement as the end of the week approaches. Cities like Omaha are forecast to rise above freezing by Thursday or Friday, while Chicago residents will likely not see high temperatures above the 32-degree mark until the upcoming weekend.
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