Washington, DC – A widespread cold weather outbreak is gripping much of the United States this weekend, with Cold Weather Advisories and Extreme Cold Warnings issued for dozens of states from the Northern Plains and Midwest to the Ohio Valley, Appalachians, Deep South, and Alaska.
According to the National Weather Service, dangerously cold air will settle in from Saturday night through Sunday, with wind chill values plunging as low as −40 to −45 degrees in parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and northern Wisconsin. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 5 to 10 minutes in the coldest areas.
Across the Midwest and Great Lakes, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, wind chills ranging from −15 to −30 degrees are expected overnight, creating hazardous conditions for anyone outdoors without proper protection.
Farther south, cold advisories extend into Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Mississippi, where wind chills between 0 and 15 degrees are forecast — cold enough to cause hypothermia, frozen pipes, and livestock impacts, especially in areas unaccustomed to prolonged cold.
In the Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic, including parts of West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland, subzero wind chills are expected in higher elevations through Monday morning.
Meanwhile, Alaska continues to face some of the harshest conditions, with wind chills as low as −50 degrees and extended cold advisories lasting into next week, particularly across the Copper River Basin, Thompson Pass, and Interior valleys.
Officials nationwide urge residents to limit outdoor exposure, dress in multiple layers, bring pets indoors, and check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors. Drivers are advised to carry emergency kits in case of breakdowns during extreme cold.
Conditions are expected to gradually moderate early next week, but officials warn the cold remains dangerous through Sunday night in many regions.
