Winter doesn’t officially arrive until Dec. 21, which marks the first day of winter and the winter solstice, but much of the U.S. is already getting doused with winter weather. An “arctic blast” of cold and snow is moving across the U.S., and according to research from the Weather Channel, it’s even set to impact southern states, such as Florida.
The week of Dec. 1 through 7 marks the first week of the meteorological winter, which is different from winter solstice and the arrival of the astronomical winter. According to the Mount Washington Observatory, meteorologists have “seasons start almost a month before astronomical seasons is because of temperature.” The metrological winter lasts from Dec. 1 through the end of February, and the NOAA says the meteorological seasons were made to accommodate the consistent changes required by the astronomical calendar.
So, we’re a few days into the meteorological winter, and the U.S. is starting to feel it. Over the next 10 days, the Weather Channel says to prepare for a dramatic change in temperatures across the country, as well as snow.
A Major Blast of Cold Air and Snow Is Coming
On Thursday, Dec. 4, the Weather Channel updated its forecast to include a “fresh blast of cold arctic air” that’s sending “temperatures plunging below zero in parts of the upper Midwest,” adding that it could break daily cold records from the Midwest to the Northeast into Friday, Dec. 5.
The Weather Channel says to expect plunging, record-breaking low temperatures through Friday in Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York City, Detroit, Milwaukee and Roanoke, Virginia. That’s on Thursday, but by Friday, expect those cold temperatures to spread into the southern parts of the U.S., as well as the Northeast.
The experts at the Weather Channel also say that while large accumulations of snow aren’t on the radar for this storm, “light snow could be in the form of quick bursts known as snow squalls that could lead to sudden, dangerous whiteout conditions.”
The Weather Channel also projects a “second shot of cold air” to work its way through the country over the weekend and into early next week.
Looking at the temperature outlook from Dec. 4 through Dec. 13, the Plains are expected to be warm, but the rest of the country is colder than normal. Even Florida is expected to have temperatures below normal, according to the NOAA. So, bundle up for what’s shaping up to be a very cold week and a half.
Tips to Stay Safe in the Winter Cold
The American Red Cross warns reminds people that cold weather can be extra hard on the elderly. They urge people to “check on relatives, neighbors, and friends, particularly if they are elderly or live alone” and to try to “avoid overexertion, such as shoveling snow, pushing a vehicle, or walking in deep snow.”
Pets need to be protected, too. “If possible, bring your pets inside during cold winter weather,” they note. “Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and make sure they have access to non-frozen drinking water.”
