An arctic blast will plunge most of the United States into "dangerously cold" territory this weekend, and maps shared by AccuWeather and the National Weather Service (NWS) reveal which states can expect to get hit the hardest by the arctic weather—one of which will face temperatures up to 60 degrees below zero.
The frigid air will spread southward across the U.S. this weekend following a series of winter storms that brought gusty winds, cold temperatures and heavy precipitation to most of the nation this week, including snow in Hawaii.
"Frigid Arctic air will begin to spread southward across the heart of the country this weekend and is expected to continue into next week," the NWS Weather Prediction Center posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday afternoon with an image of the wind chill forecast map. "Much below normal temperatures along with gusty winds will lead to wind chills well below zero for many locations." Newsweek reached out to the NWS by email for comment.
Frigid Arctic air will begin to spread southward across the heart of the country this weekend and is expected to continue into next week. Much below normal temperatures along with gusty winds will lead to wind chills well below zero for many locations. pic.twitter.com/doT2gkDqoi
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 9, 2024
The forecasted temperatures are as much as 50 degrees below average for this time of year, even in northern states accustomed to chilly winters. Montana is facing the worst of the cold, with wind chill plummeting the temperatures to 60 degrees below zero. There's a high likelihood that states in the Plains and the Midwest will experience temperatures far below average for this time of year as well, according to a FOX Weather report.
Even traditionally warm regions such as Southern California, South Texas and central Florida are forecast to experience wind chill temperatures below freezing.
An AccuWeather report described the incoming arctic blast as "dangerously cold," especially when the wind chill is taken into account. Wind chill can make air feel much colder than the temperature reads, which will be a factor with the weather this weekend.
Nearly all of the U.S. will experience wind chill temperatures below zero, including parts of Arizona and New Mexico, but residents of North Dakota, South Dakota, far north Idaho and far north Washington, where wind chill temperatures will be colder than minus 40 degrees, should brace for the potentially deadly weather. Much of the Midwest will feel like minus 10 degrees or colder, with the Northeast facing wind chill temperatures of minus 10 degrees to 10 degrees.
AccuWeather warned of potential property damage from the cold blast, as frigid temperatures can cause pipes to burst. Strong winds trekking up the Appalachian Mountains will threaten power outages for some people along the East Coast.
The power grid in the southern U.S. also could be pushed to its limits as actual temperatures dip below zero as far south as parts of Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, AccuWeather reported. The forecast is a cause for concern for millions in Texas after a frigid storm killed hundreds and left more than 4 million without power in 2021.
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