Millions of Americans forced into involuntary polar dip this week
And that’s just the beginning. The thermometer will slide to 30 to 40 degrees below normal by Tuesday and Wednesday as a strong high pressure system begins to spread arctic air further south and east.
Many cities will see a brutal polar dip within 48 hours.
Denver will go from a high temperature in the low 60s on Sunday to 15 for the peak on Tuesday, with flurries.
Rapid City, SD will slide from a high of 50 degrees on Sunday to 0 degrees for a high on Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, the bottom will drop in the Black Hills to 17 degrees below zero.
Some cities will see the drastic drop in temperatures even faster, in just 24 hours.
In Amarillo, TX, Monday’s high will hit 70 degrees, but drop rapidly to the mid-30s a day later.
Wichita, KS will dip even further, dropping from a Monday high near 70s into the mid-20s for a Tuesday high.
Over the next week, more than 70% of Americans in the Lower 48 will experience below freezing temperatures. More than 15 million people will experience sub-zero temperatures.
With such cold temperatures already in place, any moisture moving in will cause snow to spread over a wide area.
Bitter cold meets prolonged snow
Snow will start across the Upper Midwest, but since the cold front will not move very quickly, it will allow considerable snowfall rates in the region.
By Tuesday, sleet, rain and freezing rain will cover the Great Lakes region, where significant ice accumulations are possible.
About 6 inches of snow is forecast for parts of the Northern Plains and Midwest through Tuesday, but some areas could see more than 12 inches.
The slow movement of the system will also be a concern on the south side of the storm due to very heavy rainfall.
The bulk of the rain will fall in the Southeast on Monday and Tuesday.
The South will be one of the few regions to face above-average temperatures on Monday, which will help fuel severe storms.
The Ark-La-Tex area as well as the lower and middle Mississippi Valley will see possible tornadoes, large hail and wind damage Monday afternoon through Monday evening.
cnn
