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A powerful Arctic air front is set to bring dangerously cold conditions to the eastern third of the United States this week. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will plunge to near or below zero degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chills making it feel as cold as minus 50 in some areas.
The Arctic blast will begin affecting the northern Plains on Thursday (January 22) and is expected to spread to the mid-Mississippi Valley, the Ohio Valley, and the Northeast by Sunday (January 25). Millions of Americans are under advisories and warnings for frigid weather and dangerous snow conditions.
AccuWeather meteorologists predict that the cold air mass will be accompanied by a sprawling snow and ice storm, affecting more than two dozen states from Texas to the Northeast. The storm could cause significant disruptions, including flight cancellations, road closures, and school shutdowns.
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches for states including Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. The Great Lakes region is also under winter weather advisories and extreme cold watches. Wind chills could drop to minus 50 degrees in the Northern Plains, posing a life-threatening risk of hypothermia and frostbite to exposed skin.
The cold front is expected to bring heavy snow and icy conditions, with up to 2 feet of snow possible in parts of the Appalachians. The storm's path and timing remain uncertain, but forecasters warn that snow will not quickly melt due to the low temperatures.