In early 2025, the first polar vortex of the year will occur, bringing snow, storms, and frigid temperatures that will affect much of the country and millions of Americans.
During the second week of this year, the coldest and most dangerous air of the season will impact the Southeast, with subfreezing temperatures possible as far south as the Gulf Coast and the Florida peninsula. Freezing precipitation is possible across this region and the southern Plains.
Temperatures could drop as much as 30 degrees below average in some areas, according to the report. fox weather.
The cold can be so extreme that “for the entire United States, this January could be the coldest January since 2011,” said AccuWeather Principal Long Range Expert Paul Pastelok. said. statement.
A media forecasting firm said a surge in heating demand was expected and warned that the cold weather in the southeast could cause rolling blackouts and power grid problems.
“The last two Januarys in the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan) have been well above the historical average from 1991 to 2020,” said Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather’s senior director of forecasting operations. said, “January 2023 was 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit; January 2023 was 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit.” In 2024, it was 4.2 times. Temperatures in this region will be below normal in January for the first time since 2022. ”
The Arctic outbreak is expected to spread south and east from the northern Plains, bringing heavy snowfall to the Appalachians, Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Northeast. Weather forecasters warn of snowfall Could cause ‘significant’ travel disruption.
AccuWeather noted that the snow could impact major metropolitan areas including New York City, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
winter storm The central plains will begin to be affected by Saturday night, with heavy snow expected to spread east into the mid-Atlantic by early next week.
Lake effect snow is also possible in the leeward areas of the Great Lakes.
Temperatures of 6 to 12 inches are expected in the area by Saturday morning as the cooling trend expands eastward this week.
A similar amount could reach the skies over the central Appalachians as the system moves into the central Appalachians on Friday.
meanwhile The word “polar vortex” Although relatively recent, the phenomenon itself is not new. It is a large area where atmospheric pressure is lower than surrounding locations and where there is cold air surrounding the Earth’s poles. It is always present near the poles, but becomes stronger in winter.
