Prepare for the cold!
An intense arctic blast is set to sweep through the eastern United States soon, bringing temperatures that could plummet to single digits, leading experts to advise people to stay indoors to avoid hypothermia.
This frigid cold front is projected to hit its peak later this week, with places like Chicago, parts of Michigan, and upstate New York facing the brunt, according to forecasts.
“It’s dangerously cold,” said Tom Kinnes, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. “This arctic air, this arctic blast, is on its way. Things are going to get significantly worse before we see improvements.”
Northeastern regions can expect bitter weather over the weekend, with temperatures approximately 30 degrees below the seasonal average for late January, Kinnes added.
As this arctic air flows in from Canada, residents in severely affected areas, notably parts of Minnesota and Illinois, could be at risk of hypothermia if they remain outdoors for extended periods without adequate clothing, he explained.
“If you have to venture outside, please take the cold seriously,” he implored, encouraging people to dress in layers and limit outdoor activity.
“When temperatures fall like this, you can actually feel pain with your first breath,” he warned. “It’s definitely not trivial.”
Power outages could also become an issue since residents frequently crank up their heat, potentially overloading the power grid.
New York City is bracing for a snowstorm on Sunday, alongside expected low temperatures in the low teens over the weekend, Kinnes noted.
The storm could leave several inches of snow across the city, enough to necessitate shoveling and plowing, he added.
On Thursday, temperatures in the Big Apple will be slightly milder, with a high around 45 degrees and a low of 29 degrees, before a more severe drop sets in as the weekend approaches.
Friday will see sunny conditions with highs reaching 36 degrees and lows dropping to 12 degrees. Then, on Saturday, expect an uncomfortably cold high of just 19 degrees, with lows also at 12 degrees.
Forecasters predict a high of 20 degrees and a low of 15 degrees as the snowstorm hits the area.
There’s little hope for a warm-up until the following week, Kinnes reiterated.
“If cold weather isn’t your thing, you might want to consider booking a flight somewhere warmer,” he added.
