A cold Arctic air mass will drop temperatures below zero this weekend, reaching -20 to -30 degrees Fahrenheit across the northern Plains, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service.
Freezing temperatures for the next three days
-40 degrees Fahrenheit -31°
-22°
-13°
-4°
5°
14 degrees
23 degrees
32 degrees
Source: NOAA
By The New York Times
By Monday and Tuesday, freezing temperatures will sweep south all the way to the Gulf Coast.
Source: NOAA
Note: Forecast temperatures as of 7 a.m. ET each day. Forecast data in some areas may not be available.
By The New York Times
Blasts of freezing cold Arctic air can be dangerous, especially when combined with gusty winds. Wind removes heat from your body, much like when soup or hot drinks cool when you blow on them.
In order to measure how cold it is outside, the National Weather Service forecasts wind chill temperature, which represents wind speed along with temperature. The stronger the wind speed, the colder the wind chill. If your body temperature drops below 95 degrees F, hypothermia can occur.
With prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures, another risk is frostbite. Your body's survival mechanism in response to extreme cold is to protect vital internal organs by cutting off circulation to your extremities and allowing them to freeze. By looking at the likely wind speed and the expected temperature, if it is expected to be below freezing, you can estimate how long it will take for exposed skin to develop frostbite.
Research the risk of frostbite in places across the country, and see if the location will be below freezing and if it will feel cold.
