Get ready, folks! A massive cold snap is about to hit the Eastern United States. Temperatures are expected to drop significantly, and it might stick around longer than we'd like. Zachary Yack, a Chicago-based National Weather Service meteorologist, warns that this Arctic air could linger into the beginning of next week. Places like Minneapolis are already feeling the chill, with highs dropping to 20 degrees on Thursday and dipping even lower to 12 degrees by Saturday.

In Chicago, it's not much warmer. Temperatures are predicted to stay in the low 20s for the next week, with overnight lows potentially reaching single digits. Yack explains that a low-pressure system is dragging cold air from northern Canada. This cold air will hang around because distortions in the jet stream are keeping it stuck over the East.

This isn't just a Midwest problem. The Southeast, including the Gulf Coast and parts of Florida, could see temperatures below freezing. Even citrus crops might be affected. As for snow, the southern Plains and Southeast could get some, with heavier snow potential in the Appalachian Mountains, the Ohio Valley, the Great Lakes, and the interior Northeast.

The Climate Prediction Center's forecast for the next two weeks suggests continued cold conditions across most of the Eastern United States. Yack is particularly worried about people who work outdoors and vulnerable populations like the homeless. With wind chills reaching below zero, frostbite could become a real risk in short periods.

Brace Yourself: A Long, Cold Week Ahead!

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