Brutal Cold Arrives into the Central U.S. this Weekend

26 Jan 2023, 6:10 pm

Are you ready for some of the coldest air so far this season? We’re looking at Arctic air from Canada sinking south Friday and staying locked into the central U.S. and Rockies through the middle of next week! In fact, model forecasts indicate the potential for single-digit and teen-high temperatures through the end of next week. The potential for below-average temperatures stretches from the Northern Rockies to the Great Lakes and from the Canadian border through the I-70 corridor of Kansas. Start thinking ahead to those weekend plans and anything that may need to be protected from the cold.

Overnight lows will be the most brutal – widespread in the single digits and teens, on either side of zero. The farther north or higher in elevation you are, the worse it will be. Even cities like Des Moines and Omaha in the Plains will get in or around zero. This is the kind of prolonged cold that will damage pipes and is dangerous for pets. Please make arrangements for any livestock or animals you have in addition to preparing your home for colder winter air. Daytime highs will be equally cold – well below freezing from Friday through the weekend and likely into early next week. In fact, cities in the Dakotas and Minnesota may not even get to 0° for a high through Tuesday of next week. Now, we are no stranger to cold temperatures in January but we are running about 20° below average for multiple days, which becomes hazardous.

The extended forecast shows below-average temperatures in Omaha into next week with the exception of Friday when we briefly pop above average thanks to southerly flow. Take advantage of the warmer day to continue to prepare your home, check on your neighbors ahead of the cold, and make arrangements for pets.

Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on the cold in our top weather headlines but also in your Central Regional Forecast, always :30 past the hour.

About the author

Cassie Nall

Cassie Nall was born and raised on the west coast of Florida near St. Petersburg. She's always loved being outside and her interest in Earth sciences started at a young age. After graduating high school, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Florida State University (go Noles!) and worked for the Florida Division of Emergency Management as a state meteorologist. Her first on-air pos... Load Moreition was in Sarasota, Florida at WSNN, where she spent four years waking up at 2 a.m. for the morning shift. The alarm was finally able to be set for later in the morning when she moved to Knoxville, Tennessee as the weekend evening meteorologist and fill-in for the chief at WBIR. From large wildfires and historic flooding to severe weather and snow, she was able to cover just about every type of weather while in East Tennessee. Cassie is excited to be a part of the WeatherNation team and looks forward to sharing weather stories from around the country!