Polar Vortex is Predicted to Bring Intense Cold to the US Next Week

Despite a cold start in parts of the eastern US on Thursday, the majority of the country will see milder temperatures, with highs up to 20 degrees above average. Enjoy it while you can since it's about to get quite chilly.

According to the National Weather Service, the most intense storm will reach the country's north-central on Friday before moving throughout the rest of the country over the weekend. 

Arctic air will migrate from the northern Rockies and Great Plains, passing across the Gulf Coast and Midwest on Saturday night, then the Eastern Seaboard on Sunday night.

Next week's polar vortex will bring extreme cold to the US

On Thursday, Minneapolis is forecast to hit 34 degrees. On Sunday, the highest temperature is anticipated to be 3 degrees below zero.

"Ideal time to hop on a plane and go somewhere south," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. "Like, really, really far south."

A disturbed polar vortex causes a possibly severe cold. The FOX Forecast Center predicts that a lobe of the polar vortex will drift south and hit the US this weekend and next week.

"Dangerous to life-threatening wind chills are expected" in North Dakota, with temperatures as low as 40 degrees on Sunday and Monday morning, according to the meteorological service. "This raises the risk of hypothermia and frostbite on exposed skin." If you're going on a trip, pack some cold-weather gear.

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