The Arctic’s refrigerator door is about to open, spilling frigid air into the U.S. for Christmas

If you’re planning on celebrating Christmas in the Upper Midwest or the Dakotas this year, you’re going to need to get a thicker coat. 

A true Arctic air mass — the coldest of the season so far — is projected to swirl down from the Far North, crossing the U.S. border with Canada as early as Wednesday, and potentially oozing its way all the way down to Texas, and east to New York City. 

Right now, however, it appears the East Coast may escape the worst of the cold, at least initially.

The precise details of this cold snap are still a bit fuzzy, specifically concerning whether a winter storm develops along the boundary separating the frigid air from more seasonable temperatures. It’s conceivable that areas from Texas to New England could have a white or icy Christmas this year, though this won’t become clear for another few days.  Read more…

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