Weather security

The Polar Vortex Could Bring Life-Threatening Cold to the Midwest Next Week

If you live in the Midwest, I’m sorry. All signs are pointing toward an extremely dangerous and potentially historic cold snap descending on the region next week thanks to the polar vortex. It will make last week’s dalliance with polar vortex-induced cold look like a beach vacation and could put lives at risk.

Weather models are largely in agreement that very cold air will descend on the Midwest next week. The biggest questions now are just how cold it will get and when the chilliest air will descend.

Cold is already gripping the Midwest. On Friday, Duluth, Minnesota sat at minus-17 degrees Fahrenheit while Chicago was at minus-4 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Weather Service has much of the Upper Midwest blanketed in wind chill watches and warnings, and warns that in Minnesota, wind chills could drop “25 below to as low as 40 below zero” before a slight reprieve on Monday.

This could be just a tune up for what’s the come. The big chill is likely to ushered in by midweek as the Midwest stares down what could be some of the coldest air anywhere on the planet. Models suggest temperatures could be anywhere from 15-50 degrees Fahrenheit below normal for this time of year. The lower end of that spectrum comes courtesy of an upgrade to the American model, while the oft-praised (but not always right) Euro is predicting the most extreme polar plunge. The exact details may still in flux, but I feel comfortable saying the weather will either completely suck, be totally brutal, or cold as balls.