A severe outbreak of cold air will plague a large part of the nation next week — the coldest the U.S. has endured in many years.
A polar vortex will plunge toward the Great Lakes on Tuesday, Jan. 29, affecting temperatures in many states. It is too soon to give an exact projection of the strength of the frigid blast, but forecasters are predicting temperatures could fall as much as 40 to 50 degrees lower than usual for places affected.
The intense cold could be very dangerous. Widespread wind chills are currently predicted on American modeling forecasts to be in deep negatives: For example, in Northern Ohio there could be a -40 degree wind chill; In Kentucky, -3 to -12; In North Dakota .... -63 degrees.
Forecasters say these numbers could change as models sometimes exaggerate intensity of the cold when it is more than five days out. Still, now's the time to invest in very warm clothing for skin protection and extra home insulation, if possible.
Read the full National Weather Service prediction for the polar vortex here .
