Chicago, IL – A widespread Arctic cold outbreak is gripping the United States, with cold weather advisories and freeze warnings now affecting more than a dozen states, stretching from the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes to the Northeast, Appalachians, and parts of the Deep South.
According to the National Weather Service, dangerously low wind chills are expected through Monday night and into Tuesday morning, with some regions experiencing life-threatening cold exposure in minutes. Wind chills as low as 35 to 40 degrees below zero have been reported in parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, while large portions of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey remain under cold weather advisories.
Major metro areas including Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York City, and Philadelphia are seeing bitter cold, with officials warning that prolonged exposure could quickly lead to frostbite or hypothermia, even with limited time outdoors.
The cold air mass is also pushing unusually far south. Freeze warnings and cold weather advisories are in effect across parts of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and the Gulf Coast, where sub-freezing temperatures and wind chills in the 20s are threatening crops, outdoor plumbing, pets, and vulnerable populations.
In the Appalachians and interior Northeast, strong winds are worsening conditions, creating hazardous travel and increasing the risk of power disruptions. Emergency officials are urging residents to limit time outdoors, dress in layers, cover exposed skin, and check on elderly neighbors and those without reliable heat.
Meteorologists say the cold will gradually ease midweek, but dangerous conditions are expected to persist in many regions through Tuesday morning.
Residents are urged to monitor local forecasts and heed all weather advisories as this widespread winter cold continues to impact much of the country.
