A powerful Arctic outbreak, partially linked to the polar vortex, is set to sweep across much of the United States next week, bringing dangerously cold temperatures that could plummet 25 to 35 degrees below average for mid-January, forecasts warn.
The cold snap is expected to affect a wide swath of the country, including Ohio, where high temperatures could drop into the single digits by next week. Overnight lows are anticipated to reach or dip below zero, with wind chills plunging into the negative range, creating dangerous conditions.
The severe cold, which is expected to last at least a week, could have far-reaching consequences, including heightened risks to public health, strain on electricity grids, potential damage to crops, and a frigid Inauguration Day in Washington, D.C. The upcoming Arctic outbreak is predicted to be much colder and more widespread than the one experienced earlier this month.
By Sunday, approximately 81 million people across the U.S. are expected to experience subzero temperatures, with more individuals likely to be affected as the cold front continues to push southward from northern Canada. Residents are advised to prepare for potentially hazardous conditions as the polar plunge sets in.
