The United States weather bureau has predicted bitter cold for a vast segment of the nation. Workers who maybe exposed to frigid weather conditions should consult with the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health information in order to protect themselves from cold weather exposures. Such exposures may result in compensable injuries and illnesses for which workers' compensation benefits may be available.
***Bitterly cold temperatures from the Dakotas to the Northeast
***Lake effect snow continues downwind of the Great Lakes
***Mild and dry for the western part of the country
*** The weather pattern over the next few days will feature a massive surface high settling southward from Canada to the Great Plains on Wednesday, following by another large surface high by the end of the week.
Both of these features are of Arctic origin, and will bring bitterly cold weather from the western High Plains to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S. Widespread subzero overnight lows are forecast for the Dakotas, Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and interior New England. Wind chill advisories and warnings are in effect for many of these same areas, with some of the coldest wind chill readings in the -25 to -45 degree range!
Some record low temperatures are also possible. In addition to the frigid temperatures, the cold air advection over the Great Lakes along with upper-level shortwave energy moving over the region is expected to produce significant lake effect snow downwind from the Great Lakes through midweek. The heaviest snow is likely to occur east of lakes Erie and Ontario, where local amounts will easily exceed one foot.
Some upslope snow is likely in the central and northern Appalachians as well. The western U.S. is expected to remain dry with mild temperatures through the end of the week. Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php
