A blast of arctic air is plunging south from Canada into parts of the northern U.S., while residents of the Pacific Northwest brace for mudslides and levee failures from floodwaters that are expected to slowly recede.
This catastrophic flooding has forced thousands to evacuate, including Eddie Wicks and his wife, who relocated their two donkeys and eight goats as the water rose rapidly around their farm near the Snoqualmie River in Washington state. They were rescued by local authorities when their home was engulfed by floodwaters.
Big cities like Chicago, Minneapolis brace for Arctic air
As the Pacific Northwest attempts to recover from the deluge, a separate weather system is bringing dangerous wind chill values to the Upper Midwest. Areas like Grand Forks, North Dakota are experiencing chilling temperatures of minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit, feeling like minus 33 F with wind chill.
In major cities such as Minneapolis and Chicago, residents can expect frigid temperatures over the weekend, with lows dropping to around minus 15 F in Minneapolis and 1 F in Chicago by early Sunday morning.
The cold weather advisories have been issued stretching down to Montgomery, Alabama, where temperatures are forecasted to dip to around 22 F.
Danger of mudslides, levee failures continues in Pacific Northwest
Recovery in the Pacific Northwest comes as residents face ongoing risks from flooding. An atmospheric river has led to excessive rainfall, prompting dramatic rescues and forcing evacuations across the region. While floodwaters are beginning to recede, officials warn of the potential for levee failures and mudslides as high waters persist along with forecasts for additional rain.
