Polar vortex to bring triple whammy of Arctic cold to US through mid-December

The polar vortex is moving and will take hold near Canada’s Hudson Bay, directing arctic air currents from the North Pole south to parts of the central and eastern United States by the middle of the month. Arctic air will cause rounds of flurries and gusty winds in some areas and could fuel storms that could bring more widespread snow.

Arctic air is expected to bring subfreezing temperatures from the Dakotas and Minnesota to Iowa and Nebraska, while much of the central states and Northeast will see some of the coldest temperatures of the season so far.

“This burst of Arctic air can be attributed to the displacement of the polar vortex,” AccuWeather chief remote meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

“This week’s outbreak could be the first of three such waves. There could be another cold blast next week, followed by a third the week after that,” Pastelok explained. “The fluctuations in Arctic air will cause a significant increase in energy demand.”

Nighttime and early morning temperatures are expected to drop into the single digits, 10s and 20s northeast of Interstate 95 later this week from the central and southern Plains to the Ohio Valley and interior Northeast.

Arrangements from mid-week through the weekend may require full winter clothing and coats. In areas where ski resorts have yet to receive significant amounts of natural snowfall, snowmaking operations are expected to be in full swing in preparation for the ski season.

In windy locations, AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures are expected to be 10-25 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than actual temperatures. Some daily record lows may be challenged.

Breezy winds and scattered clouds could keep temperatures above the season’s lowest levels into next week in parts of the Southeast, especially the Florida Peninsula. Still, rounds of cold weather will bring the risk of severe ice to inland areas of southeastern states.

Those who have not yet completed winterizing their homes and water lines or have their furnaces inspected and ordered heating oil or propane may want to do so as soon as possible.

As the arctic air front advances, it may be accompanied by flurries of flurries, snow and larger snow squalls as the front sweeps across the Great Lakes region and into the northern Appalachians.

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The first Arctic front will sweep from the Great Lakes into the Northeast Wednesday night into Thursday. Snow showers are possible extending into the Interstate 95 corridor in the Northeast.

Snow may be short-lived and sporadic, but it can cover quickly, causing slippery conditions. A lake-effect band forming behind the front could drop several inches of snow by Thursday night. While the upcoming lake effect event will be short-lived, other events occurring in mid-December could be long-lasting and significant.

The western edge of arctic air will contribute in part to Thursday’s blizzard moving southward over the Rockies from Wyoming and Colorado to northern New Mexico.

The interaction of the cold snap with storms over the southern United States will determine the extent of snow accumulation and a mix of snow, ice and rain versus just rain across the eastern United States Friday night into Saturday.

Travelers traveling on highways and air flights should be prepared for possible delays. Some schools may also be delayed, dismissed early, or canceled.

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