National Weather Service warns of 'the coldest air many of us will have ever experienced'

Winter in Washington, DC.
(Image credit: Eric Baradat/Getty Images)

The majority of Americans are about to experience some seriously cold weather, and in some states, the temperatures could hit record lows.

The National Weather Service says that in the coming days, as a polar vortex sweeps through the Midwest and the Great Lakes, parts of the country may experience "the coldest air in a generation," CNN reports. Temperatures in some states will likely "shatter dozens of records" and drop as low as 40 degrees below zero. In Chicago, for instance, the temperature may come close to reaching a new record of 29 degrees below zero as residents are warned of "life-threatening extreme cold" that "can lead to rapid onset of frostbite and hypothermia," per The Washington Post.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.