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Deep freeze from Upper Midwest, U.S. to Atlantic Canada

deep-freeze-upper-midwest-and-northeast-us

Numerous wind chill advisories and warnings are in place from the Upper Midwest to New England on Monday, January 10, 2022, as wind chills are expected to plummet to -31 to -40 °C (-25 to -40 °​F). In addition, heavy lake effect snow is likely downwind of the Great Lakes early this week. While Western Canada finally breaks free from the prolonged extreme cold, the coldest air of the season is now targeting Ontario, Quebec, and parts of Atlantic Canada.

Behind a potent cold front that has exited into the eastern Atlantic Ocean, arctic air is expected to continue rushing into the Northeast this morning, NWS forecaster Snell noted.1

This pocket of cold air extends westward and throughout much of the northern tier, where dangerously cold wind chills will remain across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes today before more bearable temperatures enter on Tuesday.

With wind chills expected to drop well below zero (as low as -40 °C / -40 °F in spots), Wind Chill Warnings and Wind Chill Advisories currently span twelve states throughout the northern tier from far northeast Montana to northern Maine.

Temperatures this cold can lead to frostbite on exposed skin in as little as ten minutes.

For much of the Northeast and New England, these frigid temperatures will remain locked over the region into Wednesday morning as a strong high pressure system slowly swings over the eastern United States.

Meanwhile, in association with cold west-northwesterly winds, lake effect snow is likely downwind of the Great Lakes over the next few days.

Snow could be particularly heavy at times under very narrow snow bands throughout the eastern U.P. of Michigan, the Tug Hill Plateau of New York State, as well as far western New York and northwest Pennsylvania.

The heaviest snow is expected across Tug Hill, where over 30 cm (1 foot) of snow is possible. Winter Storm Warnings, Lake Effect Snow Warnings, and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect.

The coldest air of the season also targets Ontario, Quebec and parts of Atlantic Canada early this week, with the temperatures expected to drop into the -20s (°C) for the Golden Horseshoe and -30s in eastern Ontario.2

Strong winds off the warm waters of the Great Lakes will set off snow squalls near lakes Superior and Huron, as well as Georgian Bay, for an extended period of time into Tuesday, threatening to dump 15 – 20+ cm (0.5 – 0.65+ feet) in some areas over 12 hours.

References:

1 Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 240 AM EST Mon Jan 10 2022

2 Flip the switch: Western Canada warms up as polar vortex shifts east – The Weather Network

Featured image: TropicalTidbits, GFS

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