Blizzard Warnings Issued as Arctic Blast Dives South

news image
Special Stories
23 Dec 2020 4:30 AM
Leading up to Christmas Day and lasting into the Holiday Weekend, a blast of frigid arctic air will plunge into the eastern third of the U.S. It will also be accompanied by rain and snow, with potential for flakes to fall as far south as Alabama! A piece of the polar vortex will extend itself into the Great Lakes by the end of the week.  This will be responsible for hooking into and pulling down very frigid arctic air across the nation. In turn, an area of low pressure will form at ground level with a cold front extending from it. The system will drive the arctic air through the Midwest and into the Deep South.  At the peak of the storm's intensity, heavy snow and strong winds will be driven into parts of North Dakota and Minnesota where winter storm watches have already been issued.

Northern Plains & Midwest Alerts

Blizzard warnings have been issued for a large area across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Snow is expected to accumulate to over 6 inches in some of these areas but the wind is going to create the biggest issues, leading to ground blizzard conditions where blowing snow is expected to reduce visibility to a few hundred feet.

Forecast

As the front plows through the Central U.S. and moves east, a line of showers will eventually transition to snow behind the front, as the precipitation falls through a much deeper cold pool of air that extends all the way to ground level.

Wind Forecast

This storm will also be accompanied by a very strong wind field too, which is the primary reason for the blizzard warnings.  Wind sustained in the High Wind Warnings are between 35-45 mph with gusts 60-80 mph. The Wind Advisories also showcase wind being sustained 25-35 with gusts up to 45 mph. Dangerous travel conditions along with power outages are possible with the strength of this. Reports are already coming in with verification on the alerts.

Forecast Wind Chill

Temperatures dive as the arctic air settles into the region. This means a 20-30 degree temperature drop between Wednesday and Friday for some. The wind remains strong creating an extremely dangerous wind chill factor. By Thursday morning, single digits temperatures are forecast which means winds can make it feel 10 to 20 degrees colder than the actual air temperatures. The risk for frost bite and hard freezing conditions remain in the forecast until the weekend. Stay with WeatherNation for more on this 'arctic plunge' to come!
All Weather News
More
Flossie Strengthens to Hurricane Status

Flossie Strengthens to Hurricane Status

EASTERN PACIFICThe National Hurricane Center

1 Jul 2025 3:05 AM
Severe Storms For the East Coast Through Tuesday

Severe Storms For the East Coast Through Tuesday

A cold front is tapping into a moist air mass

1 Jul 2025 2:50 AM
Hurricane Center Monitoring Florida for Tropical Development

Hurricane Center Monitoring Florida for Tropical Development

Residents and visitors to the Southeast will

1 Jul 2025 2:50 AM
Where Rain Could Dampen Holiday Travel Plans

Where Rain Could Dampen Holiday Travel Plans

AAA is expecting over 70 million travelers to

1 Jul 2025 12:50 AM
Extreme Heat Continues Out West

Extreme Heat Continues Out West

An upper-level ridge is building into the Des

1 Jul 2025 12:45 AM
Severe Weather Threat Continues in the Midwest

Severe Weather Threat Continues in the Midwest

It has been an active, severe season across t

30 Jun 2025 9:00 PM
Thunderstorms Possible in the Southeast Overnight

Thunderstorms Possible in the Southeast Overnight

SOUTHEAST - Strong thunderstorms have develop

28 Jun 2025 2:40 AM