Frigid Air Grips US and Canada, Captured in Pictures

A large portion of the United States, totaling over 142 million people, is currently under a wind chill alert due to the extreme Arctic cold that has settled over the country. The National Weather Service (NWS) has predicted that the heartland of the US may experience record-breaking cold temperatures. In Montana, temperatures are expected to drop below -50F (-45C). This cold snap could potentially impact voter turnout in Iowa, as the state prepares to select its Republican candidate for the 2024 election. The NWS has issued an advisory stating that the brutally cold temperatures will persist until Wednesday. This cold spell is the result of an Arctic air mass that has moved southeast from western Canada, where it had already set record-low temperatures. Alberta, Canada has experienced bone-chilling temperatures, with a record low of -49.5F (-45.3C) on Saturday. This Arctic blast has strained Alberta's energy grid, prompting the province to issue an emergency alert asking residents to limit their energy usage to avoid widespread power outages. Almost six million Canadians are currently under an extreme cold warning, particularly in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and parts of British Columbia. As this Arctic air mass now extends over the US heartland, analysts are considering if it will impact voter turnout in Iowa, which has been battling extreme cold and heavy snow, resulting in the cancellation of campaign events. Temperatures on Monday are expected to reach as low as -40F (-40C) with wind chill. The NFL playoffs have also been affected by the winter weather, as a snowstorm in New York caused a game to be rescheduled, and in Kansas City, a game was played in temperatures as low as -28F (-33C) with wind chill. The Lower Mississippi Valley, the Tennessee Valley, and parts of Washington State and Portland are expected to receive a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain due to the freezing temperatures. Ongoing power outages in Portland have left more than 100,000 households and businesses without heat or electricity for three days. Texas has also experienced power outages, affecting around 25,000 people, and officials have urged residents to conserve electricity to alleviate strain on the power grid. While some relief from the cold is expected by Wednesday, another surge of Arctic air is expected to descend from Canada later in the week, potentially bringing more frigid temperatures to the Midwest and southern regions of the US by Friday.