Chicago, IL – After days of unseasonable warmth, the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest are bracing for a stunning temperature freefall — up to 40 degrees colder within 24 hours — as an Arctic front surges south through the central U.S. today.
By Friday morning, North Dakota and central Montana will see single-digit highs, a dramatic plunge from midweek readings near 50°F. The front’s advance will spill bitter air into Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois by late Friday, driving daytime highs into the teens and setting the stage for the coldest stretch of December so far.
As frigid air sweeps across the Great Lakes, lake-effect snow bands are expected to intensify, particularly downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Meteorologists warn of 6–10 inches of accumulation in some areas, accompanied by gusts up to 40 mph — conditions likely to produce whiteouts and hazardous travel into Friday morning.
Further south, a fast-moving low-pressure system will deliver 2–4 inches of snow from the Mid-Mississippi Valley through the Ohio Valley into the Central Appalachians, while areas west of the track could experience a tenth of an inch of freezing rain, slicking roads across parts of eastern Montana and the Dakotas.
By Saturday, the Arctic blast will expand across the Upper Midwest and Ohio Valley, keeping temperatures locked below freezing through the weekend. Travelers are urged to bundle up, check road conditions, and prepare for icy commutes as early holiday traffic ramps up.
