The United States faces one of the most intense Arctic air masses of the season this Friday after a wave of snow hit several regions last week. More than 200 million people woke up to exceptionally cold temperatures as the coldest air of the year flows through the country Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast. This situation has already led to new daily records in several cities and is keeping state weather services on alert.
As reported cnnThe arrival of cold air from Canada has been clearly noticeable since Wednesday. Maximum temperatures were between 15 and 25 degrees below normal in much of the north of the country, with values close to normal 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12°C) in parts of North Dakota and South Dakota. Forecasters expected dozens of cities in the Upper Midwest to break their historic records, a scenario that occurred between Thursday and Friday.
This Thursday morning – the coldest of the week – real temperatures were double digits below zero in states like Iowa and Nebraska. The thermometers marked in between -10 and -19 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 to -28 °C)while the thermal sensations were in between -10 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 to -32 °C). Cities like Des Moines and Cedar Rapids broke previous low temperature records for that date.
Afternoon temperatures remained unusually low for early December. In much of the Midwest, the values were in between 10 and 19 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 to -7 °C)which was reportedly between 20 and 30 degrees below the historical average cnn.
This Friday the Arctic wave moved further east. Chicago almost broke its single-day record 4 degrees Fahrenheit (-16°C)while Indianapolis came very close to its own historical record 8 degrees Fahrenheit (-13°C). Pennsylvania also recorded double digits in Fahrenheit, enough to set new daily records in several locations.
In New York City, Friday morning was the coldest since early March, with temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7°C). Authorities anticipated the possibility of new records at JFK and LaGuardia airports. Sensations of warmth increased the residents’ feeling of cold.
An arctic front moving across the Northeast will produce a flurry of snow showers and snow squalls today. Attached you will find the latest key messages and an infographic on snow squalls. If you receive a warning, know that a snow squall is occurring or is imminent and slow or delay driving. pic.twitter.com/pgxMNPBHGl
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) December 4, 2025
As explained by researchers consulted by cnnthe phenomenon is related to the displacement of the Polar vortex observed since the end of November. The weakening of this circular wind flow over the Arctic allowed extremely cold air to descend into the mid-latitudes. The interaction between cold air masses and sectors with higher temperatures favored the development of storms in recent days.
Experts warn that these fluctuations could continue throughout December. Although the polar vortex is not the only factor affecting thermal variation, its current behavior contributes significantly. NOAA researchers expect another cold snap through the middle of the month, suggesting relief is yet to come across much of the country.