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A massive blast of Arctic air from Canada is plunging south, bringing dangerous, life-threatening cold to Chicago and the Upper Midwest this weekend. This severe weather shift comes as residents in the Pacific Northwest are still reeling from catastrophic, record-breaking flooding.
Brutal Wind Chills Hit the Midwest
Big cities, including Chicago and Minneapolis, are preparing for the coldest temperatures of the season.
The brutal air mass has already delivered punishing cold, shortly before noon on Saturday.
The worst is yet to come for the region’s major urban centers. In the Minneapolis area, low temperatures are expected to drop by early Sunday morning.
The Forecast for Chicago
Chicagoans are urged to take immediate precautions. Low temperatures in the Chicago area are projected to plummet by early Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
The Arctic air mass is expected to continue its push south and east throughout the weekend, with cold weather advisories stretching as far south as the Alabama capital, Montgomery, and Savannah, Georgia.
Pacific Northwest Faces Lingering Danger
Meanwhile, thousands of residents in the Pacific Northwest remain displaced after an unusually powerful “atmospheric river” dumped a foot (30 centimeters) or more of rain in parts of western Washington.
The deluge caused rivers to swell, forcing dramatic rescues. In one instance, a King County Sheriff’s Office marine rescue team had to use a boat to rescue Eddie Wicks, his wife, and their dog from their Washington farm, which had been transformed into a lake. The moment the water engulfed their home was captured on video.
While the record floodwaters are expected to slowly recede, authorities warn that the danger is not over. The threat of potential mudslides and levee failures remains high for days, and more rain is forecast for Sunday. Officials have already conducted dozens of water rescues and reported that debris and mudslides have washed out roads and bridges across the region.
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