Birmingham, Alabama, is bracing for an arctic blast that is expected to bring frigid temperatures and strong winds to the region. The front is expected to pass through the city by midday, with temperatures plummeting in the evening. The thermometer is predicted to drop from the upper 40s at sunset to the mid-20s by sunrise on Tuesday. When combined with the wind, the temperature will feel like it’s in the 10s and lower 20s to start Tuesday.
The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory for the area, warning residents to take precautions against the cold. The advisory is in effect from 6 PM Monday to 9 AM Tuesday.
The arctic blast is part of a larger weather system that is bringing extreme cold, heavy snow, and high winds to much of the United States. Cold air moving down from Canada has caused temperatures to plunge dramatically, with wind chill temperatures dropping to dangerous lows far below zero. Those in the Plains, the Upper Midwest, and the Great Lakes were cautioned to expect blizzard conditions as heavy winds whip up the snow.