Arctic blast blankets much of the US with sub-freezing temperatures

Millions of Americans should prepare for an arctic blast that will blanket much of the country in sub-freezing temperatures over the next few days.

Cool conditions are expected across a large swath of the contiguous United States in the wake of a powerful cold front moving through the East Coast on Wednesday, forecasters show.

Once the rain and wind die down, the icy conditions will extend east and south from the upper Midwest – reaching as far as Texas and Florida.

The cold air moving over the Great Lakes while they are still ice-free is expected to generate a lake effect snow event.

The National Weather Service has issued a lake effect snow warning for parts of northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York, with locally possible 2 feet to 3 feet of snow, forecasts show.

A winter storm warning has also been issued across parts of Wisconsin and Michigan, with 1 foot to 2 feet of lake effect snow locally possible.

The cool temperatures got an early start in the upper Midwest. Wednesday morning, chills dropped as low as -38 degrees in eastern North Dakota.

The arctic air mass will then move east and south, bringing the coldest air of the season from Texas to New York. A frost advisory has even been issued for parts of northern Florida, including Gainesville.

The cold temperatures are expected to last into Friday and Saturday morning in some regions, including Minneapolis, Chicago, New York City and Atlanta.

The cold starts to ease this weekend, first across the mid-country, then to reach the East Coast on Sunday and Monday.

Above-average temperatures are favored across most of the country next week, according to the latest forecast from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.