Bitter Cold Continues in the Midwest

The midwest will continue to see more opportunities for snow through the end of the weekend and beginning of next week. The bitter cold will continue and more snow may be on the way Sunday into Monday.

Arctic Air

The snow and lake-effect storm moving across the Great Lakes will continue to bring new blasts of Arctic air to the Midwest through Friday. According to AccuWeather Meteorologist, Ryan Adamson, “In most of the region, this air mass descending on the Midwest will be colder than the one that moved through last weekend and earlier this week.”

Adamson also stated, “The bitterly cold conditions will also result in highs in the single digits in cities such as Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago on Friday,”. For Chicago, temperatures are likely to be below zero degrees Fahrenheit for the first time this winter. Eastern North Dakota and northern Minnesota will continue to see subzero temperatures as well.

For pets and people alike, spending too much time in these arctic temperatures can cause cold-related injuries such as frostbite and hypothermia. Be sure to dress properly and provide shelter for your furry friends.

Potential Snow

Although most will only experience the bitter cold, some areas will get snow on top of the cold. Areas that could see significant snowfall include Fargo, North Dakota, Minneapolis, Madison, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chicago, and Detroit. According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski, these areas have the potential to see more than 6 inches. She also stated it will be more powdery snow than wet.

A much smaller zone of snow will quickly strike from the northern Plains to the mid-Mississippi Valley. This will only amount to light accumulation but will result in some slippery travel conditions. The snow could track over the lower Great Lakes and to the central Appalachians as we start off the weekend.

Regardless of what happens with this system, the polar vortex will still keep the entire Midwest region in frigid cold temperatures through the end of January.