Arctic blast to bring severe wind chills to US this week: What is it?

An Arctic blast will sweep across the US, bringing dangerously cold temperatures, severe wind chills, and snow. Washington D.C. faces one of the coldest inauguration days since 1985, with widespread weather warnings.

An Arctic blast is set to sweep across much of US later this week, bringing dangerously cold temperatures and severe wind chills, the Guardian has reported.

The cold front is expected to move over the Rockies and Great Plains on Friday, reaching the Gulf Coast and Midwest by Saturday night, with the East Coast feeling the chill by Sunday night.

By Monday, over 300 million Americans are predicted to experience below-average temperatures for this time of year, according to Fox Weather.

The Arctic air will make for one of the coldest inauguration days (January 20) in recent memory, with temperatures expected to drop significantly in Washington D.C. on Sunday night. Daytime temperatures on Monday are anticipated to be in the teens and low 20s Fahrenheit, with a high of only 24°F (-4.4°C). Wind chills could be as low as -5°F (-20°C) to 15°F (-9°C). AccuWeather meteorologists have indicated this may be the coldest inauguration day since 1985, when Ronald Reagan's second swearing-in was marked by a temperature of just 7°F (-13.8°C).

For comparison, past presidential inaugurations have been much milder. Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration saw temperatures of 42°F (5.5°C), while Donald Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 had a temperature of 48°F (8.8°C). Barack Obama’s first inauguration in 2009 was notably colder, at 28°F (-2.2°C). Between 1989 and 2009, inauguration day temperatures ranged from 34°F (1.1°C) to 52°F (11.1°C).

Washington D.C. is expected to experience one of the coldest three-day stretches in five years, with temperatures remaining low through Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, other regions such as the Rockies, northern Plains, and upper Midwest may experience wind chill factors as low as -30°F (-34°C) or colder from Saturday through Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) warns. Snow is also expected in these areas.

Hazardous wind chills are anticipated to extend into the southern Plains and Ohio Valley from Sunday night through Tuesday, with temperatures expected to remain dangerously low across the Gulf Coast and Southeast next week. Winter storm warnings are already in effect for parts of Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, with snow predicted for these regions.

In some states, wind chills could plummet to -50°F (-45°C) in North Dakota by Monday morning. Areas like Idaho and Montana are preparing for temperatures well below freezing, while Colorado and Texas will also see a significant winter chill. In Houston, temperatures are expected to dip into the 30s Fahrenheit by Saturday night, with northern counties seeing even colder temperatures.

What is an Arctic Blast?

An Arctic blast is a sudden and intense surge of cold air from the North Pole that impacts parts of the US, particularly the Midwest and Northeast. It is often associated with a weakened polar vortex, a large area of low pressure and cold air that swirls around the Arctic. When the vortex weakens, it can send this frigid air southward, resulting in the extreme cold temperatures associated with an Arctic blast. This type of weather can bring severe wind chills, heavy snowfall, and disruptions to travel and daily life.