Potential for artic weather by 3rd week of January.

[Wingy]

This is just a heads up that a large portion of the US may be in the deep freeze by the 3rd week of January. There are a few things I need to do around here to get the house ready for such cold and I'll be working extra hard to convince Jake that his new thermal perch isn't evil. Checking your backup heat source might not be a bad idea.

 

Brutal Cold Waves Could be Heading for the U.S.

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist (ACCUWEATHER)

January 06, 2013; 5:03 AM

 

URL

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/brutal-cold-waves-could-reach-us/3586088

 

Beginning near or just past the middle of the month, signs are pointing toward waves of frigid air moving southward across North America from the North Pole.

 

Much of the nation has been experiencing higher-than-average temperatures and lower heating bills so far during the cold weather season, with the exception of some bouts the past couple of weeks.

 

However, there are signs of a potential change on the way beginning during the second half of January.

 

A phenomenon known as sudden stratospheric warming has occurred in the arctic region during the past few days. The stratosphere is located between 6 miles and 30 miles above the ground.

 

Often when this occurs, it forces cold air to build in the lowest layer of the atmosphere then to drive southward.