Arab Climate Center – Ahmed Al-arbeed
Vast parts of the United States are bracing for a powerful series of storms over the next seven days. These storms are expected to bring heavy snowfall to the northeastern regions, destructive ice accumulations in the south, and extremely cold temperatures stretching from the northern plains to the Gulf Coast.
A frigid polar air mass is anticipated to flow from the Arctic, blanketing most of North America starting today, Sunday, January 19, 2025. Over the past two weeks, the United States, particularly its eastern parts, has experienced multiple direct polar incursions that caused temperature drops and snowfall across various states.
Although Canada and the United States have continued to be impacted by direct polar incursions, the current one is considered unique and exceptionally rare. Forecasts suggest that by midweek, most of North America will be enveloped by cold polar winds, marking an extraordinarily rare event.
Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing across various U.S. states. Notably, over 80% of the United States’ land area will experience sub-zero temperatures by midweek, driven by this massive and record-breaking cold wave.
In some northern states, temperatures may drop to below -25°C, prompting serious warnings about the widespread risk of freezing, especially in the northeastern states. This coincides with forecasts of strong snowstorms expected to result in significant snow accumulations, disrupting movement in many areas. These conditions are anticipated to extend from the northern United States to its southern regions.