The National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States has forecasted a significant drop in temperatures over the weekend, bringing potentially deadly cold weather to most parts of the country. Starting from Friday, the northern regions of the U.S. will be the first to feel the impact of the frigid temperatures originating from the Arctic.
According to the National Weather Service, from Friday evening into Saturday morning, extremely cold air from the Arctic Circle will move through Canada and sweep across the U.S. This cyclone is expected to spread throughout most of the country, potentially bringing one of the longest durations of Arctic cold air in years, with wind chills possibly dropping to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and the cold spell expected to last into next week.
Snowfall is expected to begin on Thursday, spreading from the Great Lakes region to western New York, with moderate to heavy snowfall anticipated in the central Appalachian Mountains and parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The National Weather Service reports that by Friday, the central U.S. and the Rocky Mountains will experience a “weather flip” with the arrival of cold fronts, extreme cold temperatures, and chilling winds, possibly accompanied by snow showers.
The extreme cold weather on the East Coast will persist for some time before returning to seasonal averages. In the South, showers and thunderstorms are possible near the Gulf Coast by Saturday morning.
On the West Coast, as the winds shift, the wildfire situation in Los Angeles is expected to improve.
Weather forecasts predict clear skies in Washington D.C. on Monday, January 20th, with temperatures below freezing as President Trump’s inauguration ceremony takes place amid the severe cold. Earlier this month, Washington D.C. experienced one of the largest snowstorms in years, followed by the subsequent cold snap.