Thu Jan 02 11:12:14 UTC 2025: ## Deep Freeze Expected to Grip Eastern US as Polar Vortex Plunges Temperatures

**Washington D.C. –** A significant cold snap is set to engulf the eastern United States next week as a weakened polar vortex shifts southward, bringing dangerously low temperatures to much of the country. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) have issued warnings, predicting an “Arctic Outbreak” that will cause temperatures to plummet up to 30 degrees below normal in some areas.

This dramatic shift follows an unusually warm winter season, making the impending cold even more impactful. The frigid conditions are expected to affect over 70% of the US population, with freezing temperatures predicted for at least the next week and potentially longer. Increased chances of snowfall are also anticipated.

The initial wave of Arctic air is expected to hit the north-central US on Wednesday, impacting states like Montana, the Dakotas, and Minnesota, where highs will be in the single digits or teens. The cold front will then spread south and east through the weekend. The western US is expected to remain largely unaffected.

The NWS explains that the polar vortex, a large area of low-pressure cold air around the North Pole, is always present but intensifies in winter. Periodically, it weakens and expands, pushing cold air southward via the jet stream—a phenomenon that is considered a regular winter occurrence. This upcoming event, however, is anticipated to be particularly severe and long-lasting. Residents are urged to prepare for the extreme cold and follow advisories issued by local authorities.

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