Extreme Cold Takes Over Central U.S.
The Central U.S. will feel record-breaking temperatures as the polar jet stream and a powerful high-pressure system in Canada will work in tandem to allow an extreme cold takeover to occur for the next few days.
Extreme Cold Watches & Warnings are in effect from the Northern Plains to central Texas. Even with light winds, we are talking wind chill values as low as 40 to 60 below zero from this morning to Thursday morning. At those values, frostbite can develop within 5 minutes on exposed skin.
Extreme cold may make its way so far to the south where over 50 low-temperature records could be broken Thursday morning.
On the periphery of the Arctic high, an upper-level disturbance will produce moderate to heavy snow from the Sierra Nevada and Rockies to the Tennessee Valley. In fact, there are currently Winter Storm Watches & Warnings in effect along with Winter Weather Advisories for this large swath of the U.S.
Around 1 to 2 feet of snow will be possible for the mountains on Monday and Tuesday, with 6 to 12 inches across the Central Plains and Tennessee Valley. The heaviest amounts will likely fall on Tuesday in eastern Kansas and southern Missouri. Up to a tenth of an inch of freezing rain accretion will be possible over parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and northern Louisiana on Tuesday as well.
Try to avoid being outdoors during the extreme cold, but if you absolutely need to, be sure to dress in layers, cover all exposed skin, limit time outdoors, and bring those pets indoors. Check for the latest tips and forecasts on WeatherBug.com.