The polar vortex has 300 million people in the United States on alert for brutal, potentially deadly cold

A bitter blast of frigid Arctic air is poised to plummet temperatures, bringing life-threatening cold temperatures to much of the United States next week. FOX Weather meteorologists Bob Van Dillen and Michael Estime break down all the details.

Most of the United States will enjoy milder temperatures on Thursday, but the warm-up will be brief as a polar vortex drops temperatures below freezing across most of the country starting this weekend.

Despite a cold start to the day in parts of the eastern United States on Thursday, most of the country will experience milder temperatures, with maximum temperatures forecast up to 20 degrees above average. Enjoy it while it lasts, because it's about to get extremely cold.

How cold?

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This chart shows the comparison of high temperatures forecast for Thursday, January 16 and Sunday, January 19, 2025. (FOX Weather)

Minneapolis predicted a high temperature of around 34 degrees on Thursday. Sunday, the maximum temperature forecast is 3 degrees below zero.

“It's a great time to get on a plane and go somewhere south,” said FOX weather meteorologist Britta Merwin. “Like, really, really far south.” »

The potentially deadly cold is caused by a disrupted polar vortex. The FOX Forecast Center said a lobe of the polar vortex will dip south and move toward the United States this weekend and next week.

“These are the types of weather systems that even bring cold air to Florida,” Merwin said. “You know, there's only maybe once or twice a year where we get some of the Arctic air that really invades the country and comes down to the Gulf Coast. That's the one of them So if you're a snowbird, you love escaping to the South – you can't escape it.

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This chart shows that the population is expected to experience below average temperatures on Monday, January 20, 2025. (FOX Weather)

In fact, more than 300 million Americans will experience below-average temperatures by Monday.

The FOX Forecast Center said temperatures would drop as much as 45 degrees below average in places, leading to subzero temperatures in at least 20 states, from the Plains to the Great Lakes and the interior of the Northeast. East.

All 48 states in the Lower Mainland and more than 80% of the population will see temperatures drop below freezing. The deep cold will be felt as far as the Deep South, with only southern Florida escaping the icy grip of the Arctic blast.

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Low temperatures forecast for next week. (FOX Weather)

The FOX Forecast Center said that while some moderation in temperatures could occur through the middle of next week, the overall trend should remain favorable for more brutal cold air outbreaks across the Lower 48 states toward the end of January.

Monthly temperatures are already 5 to 10 degrees below average, and the FOX Forecast Center said that will all but guarantee that many parts of the eastern United States will experience their coldest January in years .

Freezing temperatures could be life-threatening. This graphic shows the predicted low temperatures in Asheville, North Carolina. (FOX Weather)

Cities that aren't really used to the cold, like Atlanta, will feel the cold.

Monday morning, Atlanta could see temperatures drop into the teens, putting people on alert for the impending onslaught of extremely cold temperatures.

“It’s cold enough that you need to prepare,” Merwin said.

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This graph shows forecast wind chills. (FOX Weather)

This is especially true for those living in parts of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, which are still in recovery mode after Hurricane Helene devastated the region and left countless homeless people.

“Looking at the wind chill, it adds a whole other layer to that,” Merwin said. “I mean, it's going to be minus 50 degrees in parts of America Monday morning.”

FOX Weather meteorologists Kendall Smith and Stephen Morgan explain the signs and symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia as the winter months approach.

Preparations for the cold weather are already underway in New York. According to New York City Emergency Management, a Cold Weather Alert has been issued and the New York City Department of Public Health has declared a Blue Cold Alert.

“Outreach teams will travel across all five boroughs to connect our most vulnerable New Yorkers to shelters,” NYCEM said on X. “No person experiencing homelessness and seeking shelter in New York City during a Code Blue will be turned away.”

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