Winter Safety and Preparedness: 5 Extreme Weather Patterns to Watch in 2024

Welcome to our deep dive into this winter’s wildest weather. This year, 2024, is already proving to be a season of extremes. From icy blasts sweeping across the Midwest to atmospheric rivers slamming the West Coast, winter is shaping up to be as unpredictable as it is intense.

Meteorologists have been tracking several major weather patterns that could turn your daily routine upside down—and it’s not just about bundling up. These patterns are creating challenges for travel, infrastructure, and even the economy. Are you prepared for what’s coming? Tonight, we’re breaking down the top five extreme winter weather patterns that could define this season, backed by the latest data and insights. Let’s get started.

1. Arctic Cold Outbreaks: Winter’s Frozen Grip

Let’s start with a familiar but formidable winter force: arctic cold outbreaks. These occur when icy air from Siberia, Alaska, or Canada rushes southward, sweeping across the U.S. These bitterly cold temperatures, often below zero, are triggered by a shift in the jet stream that clears the path for frigid air to invade.

This January, the U.S. experienced one of its coldest arctic outbreaks in decades. In Chicago, temperatures plummeted to -25°F, with wind chills making it feel like -50°F. Across North Dakota, emergency shelters opened as the wind chill reached a life-threatening -60°F. The energy grid struggled to keep up, with natural gas usage surging by 20%. Meanwhile, damages from frozen pipes and infrastructure failures exceeded $2.1 billion. These chilling stats are a stark reminder of how arctic air can disrupt entire regions.