Nationwide arctic blast set to bring temperatures even lower — with 15 states at risk for new record

A frigid arctic blast is set to impact over 200 million Americans, bringing temperatures even lower than the recent wave that swept across the country. This blast is expected to break over 30 record lows in 15 states later this week, with many cities experiencing consecutive days of below-freezing temperatures leading up to Thursday and Friday.

The bitter arctic air from the polar vortex is causing disruptions, pushing colder air south towards Canada and the US. Combined with a La Niña winter, this has resulted in early February-like temperatures appearing in December.

The upcoming wave of Arctic air is predicted to be more extreme than the previous one, with temperatures dropping significantly. The FOX Weather Center reports that this frigid air will begin to sweep across the country today, leading to below-freezing temperatures in many areas.

Cities like Chicago and Minneapolis are expected to remain below freezing for the entire week, with the coldest air lingering over the High Plains and Upper Midwest. By Thursday and Friday, a stronger blast of colder Arctic air will hit, with the Midwest experiencing readings between 10 and below zero. Iowa could potentially break records for low temperatures in cities like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and Waterloo.

On Friday, the cold will extend to the I-95 corridor, with cities like Pittsburgh, New York, Indianapolis, and Baltimore likely to experience record lows. Morning temperatures in the Midwest and Great Lakes will be in the single digits, while the I-95 corridor will reach the upper 20s, well below average for this time of year.

Overall, over 40 record low temperatures are possible across the Northern Tier on both Thursday and Friday, with below-average temperatures expected to persist in some regions through mid-December. Stay warm and prepare for the frigid conditions ahead.