Overview

• An arctic blast, driven by a polar vortex, is forecasted to hit the eastern United States in early January, potentially bringing the coldest temperatures in over a decade.
• Two waves of freezing weather are expected, with the second wave closely monitored for possible severe winter storms in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions.
• Temperatures could drop 25 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit below seasonal averages, according to NOAA projections.
• This marks a sharp contrast to the unusually mild winter experienced across much of the U.S. earlier this season.
• Meteorologists are drawing comparisons to the 2013-2014 polar vortex, which brought extreme cold and record lows to cities like Chicago.