The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts that an outbreak of Arctic cold air linked to the polar vortex will push temperatures in many parts of the United States below average for mid-January next week.
A severe cold snap could endanger public health, strain power grids, damage crops and plunge President Donald Trump's inauguration into record cold.
This cold front is expected to be stronger and more widespread than the Arctic cold front in early January.
Cold air from northern Canada will move down starting January 18, lasting at least a week.
As of January 19, about 81 million people will face temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius. This number will increase after January 19.
In particular, the southern and southeastern US regions will be severely affected, with temperatures dropping below average and the possibility of snow and ice storms by the middle of next week.
The temperature forecast for the day President Donald Trump takes office (January 20) could drop to -4 degrees Celsius, with a real feel of -10 degrees Celsius due to wind.
The cold snap is caused by a strong high-pressure area in the Pacific Ocean pushing cold air from the Arctic down toward the United States, while a trough in the central United States helps cold Arctic air move south. This combination causes a deep and prolonged cold snap, with temperatures dropping more than usual.
The tropospheric polar vortex — a phenomenon associated with the Northern Hemisphere's winter climate — is currently extending south from the Arctic, pushing extremely cold air into the continental United States.
Judah Cohen, a meteorologist at Atmospheric & Environmental Research, said that strong cold air currents are swirling around Hudson Bay (Canada) and can cause extreme temperature anomalies.
Forecast models show a record-breaking area of high pressure forming over Missouri early next week, bringing the coldest air of the season.
The study also suggests that human-caused climate change could increase the likelihood of polar vortex events.
Vietnam is also experiencing a cold spell across the North and Central regions.
Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that on the day and night of January 17, the temperature in the North tends to increase slightly.
The Northern region, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An have the lowest temperature of about 10 - 13 degrees Celsius, the Northern mountainous region 7 - 10 degrees Celsius, the high mountainous region has some places below 6 degrees Celsius. The average temperature is about 17 - 19 degrees Celsius; the Northern mountainous region 13 - 15 degrees Celsius, some places below 12 degrees Celsius.
The area from Ha Tinh to Hue has the lowest temperature of about 14 - 17 degrees Celsius; average temperature of 17 - 19 degrees Celsius.
