Dangerous Arctic Outbreak In January

Confidence continues to increase in the potential for a prolonged, dangerous Arctic outbreak to blast areas east of the Rockies after the first week of January. Models are in strong agreement of a pattern favoring the polar vortex to be disrupted and move possibly into the United States, delivering a blast of very cold air that could see several reinforcements of chilly air shots beginning week two of January. While confidence is high in this potential, there are some details that are less known such as how cold it will get, where the coldest of the air resides and the exact timing of the cold blasts. It's unknown if the southern jet will come into play, creating wintry precipitation as far south as the Gulf of Mexico but this will continue to be monitored. Even weak system with minimal moisture can create havoc in such setups. Don't freak out, just keep a close eye on the forecast and begin preparing now for prolonged cold in January for most areas east of the Rockies.