Arctic Blast Brings Dangerously Cold Temperatures to Majority of U.S.

An arctic air outbreak is expected to bring well-below average temperatures throughout the majority of the United States in the next week. The jet stream will dip south, ushering in cold air directly from the Arctic Jan. 19 through Jan. 23 to the National Weather Service. 

Sub-zero temperatures and dangerous wind chills are predicted to impact the Northern Plains and Midwest. The cold air will dip far south into states on the Gulf Coast, bringing 20-degree temperatures and potential travel issues. 

“Sub-zero temperatures, even down into Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana will be possible, and we’re talking about temperatures getting down into the 20s all along the Gulf Coast, which is a really big deal for areas down there,” said Bret Walts, chief marketing officer and meteorologist for BAM Weather. 

More Snowfall Ahead

Walts said a storm system may also accompany the frigid temps. He said there is a chance for above-average snowfall in the Midwest and Ohio Valley, and a wintry system that could impact the south and southeastern region of the United States next week. 

“That big storm track, I think it’s just to the southeast across areas like Chicago, Des Moines, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne,” Walts said. “I think it’s an active pattern, and one that will probably be somewhat memorable in terms of cold and additional snow chances.” 

La Niña conditions are present but weak, and according to a release from the National Weather Service, there is a 60 percent chance of transitioning back to neutral in March through May. However, Walts said that the polar vortex is the driver of the current colder weather pattern. 

“The polar vortex in the stratosphere has set up in an orientation that causes stretching and it helps with these arctic outbreaks,” Walts said. “I think that’s what is ultimately driving the pattern and these cold shots right now.” 

Winter storms Blair and Cora impacted southern states earlier in January, leaving thousands without power. Walts said that the incoming system — along with the potential for snow and ice — should be monitored closely.

“I would watch out down across the southern tier of the United States for abnormal snow chances the next few weeks before the snow track comes a little further north into the Midwest and the Ohio Valley going into the end of January,” Walts said. 

February Outlook 

Below-average temperatures are expected to continue into February, a pattern that Walts said hasn’t been seen since as far back as 2014. He said the storm track is “very active” for the end of January and into February. 

“When compared with the last 5 to 10 years, early 2025 will be remembered as a year that was quite a bit colder and probably snowier for a lot of folks, especially in the Ohio Valley, than what we’ve seen in recent memory,” Walts said.