The Polar Cold is Back Once Again

Residents in the northern part of the United States including New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Long Island and New Jersey are warned to brace for the comeback of the polar cold. It is expected to hit the region this week in three waves, with temperatures projected to reach single digits once again. The temperature will be further aggravated by dense snowfall. This new cold spell will be simultaneous with a winter storm that is to pass across the northeast region of the U.S.

Cold waves

The first of the cold waves came on Monday and persisted until Tuesday. After a lull on Wednesday, another wave is expected to hit the region on Thursday until Friday and the last wave to come on Sunday.

One the upper Midwest, temperatures are forecast to dip to single digits or close to zero. It is expected to be in single digits up to the teens in Ohio Valley while the Midwest is expected to have overnight lows that reach below zero in some parts. The same is likely to happen in Washington D.C. up to Boston. In New England and New York, it is expected that the temperature readings will be below zero while it will be close to 10 degrees in the other major cities in the Northeastern United States.

Not a polar vortex

It was barely three weeks ago when the polar vortex occurred, which hampered businesses, communication and transportation. However, this new chilly weather is not expected to bring sub-zero temperatures and is therefore not another polar vortex, which is somehow good news. Still residents in the region are advised to brace for another bout of frigid and icy weather this week.

Not to be taken lightly

Although it will not be as frigid as when the polar vortex descended all over the United State, residents are still cautioned. The east coast has just received about 12 inches of snow, which prompted airlines to cancel more than 3,000 flights already and a further 800 flights might have to be cancelled as well. There could be another record bout of freezing weather, with the temperatures about 10 to 25 degree colder than the average midweek. It has been three years since Washington D.C. experienced a heavy snowfall. It will feel colder, as wind chills can make the temperature feel like it is -26 °C. It is forecast that Washington D.C. will be under at least 10 inches of snow. New Jersey got 16 inches of snow yesterday.

Newly-sworn in New Jersey Governor Chris Christie already declared a state of emergency. It is the same situation in Delaware. Governor Deval Patrick of Delaware cancelled his state address event. Numerous offices, schools and business are closed. Transportation services are cut back. Gasoline prices in the affected areas are soaring. People are stocking up on propane and food just in case there are power outages and they have to remain indoors for a while.

Weather forecasters are predicting that the polar chill will spread south and reach parts of northern Florida.

Photo credit: Taken by Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.