Severe Weather Hits U.S.: Arctic Chill and Pacific Flooding Cause Havoc

Sun Dec 14 2025 04:22:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A blast of Arctic air is moving south, impacting the Upper Midwest, while the Pacific Northwest grapples with catastrophic flooding, forcing mass evacuations.

As temperatures drop due to an Arctic air mass sweeping south, the Pacific Northwest is experiencing severe flooding, leading to multiple evacuations and ongoing rescues. Residents in affected areas face the threat of mudslides and levee failures even as floodwaters begin to recede. The National Weather Service has issued cold weather advisories across the Midwest and Southern states.

The U.S. is bracing for extreme weather as an Arctic air mass pushes down from Canada, while the Pacific Northwest continues to face the aftermath of catastrophic flooding.

The chilling temperatures wreak havoc on communities, with Grand Forks, North Dakota experiencing a staggering minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 24 Celsius), feeling like minus 33 F (minus 36 C) with wind chills. Chicago and Minneapolis are also preparing to face some of the coldest temperatures this weekend, with expected lows plunging to minus 15 F (minus 26 C) and around 1 F (minus 17 C), respectively.

Meanwhile, heavy rain has inundated the Pacific Northwest, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes. Eddie Wicks, along with his wife, was rescued from their farm near the Snoqualmie River as the floodwaters quickly engulfed their property. In an extraordinary show of bravery, King County sheriff’s deputies utilized boats to carry them and their pets to safety.

Authorities are now on high alert in the region, as the threat of mudslides and levee failures looms with rising waters. The National Weather Service warns that although floodwaters are beginning to recede, the risk of infrastructure failure and further rainfall could exacerbate the already precarious situation.

With cold weather advisories stretching as far south as Montgomery, Alabama, where temperatures could dip to around 22 F (minus 6 C) by Monday morning, it is clear that much of the nation is in for a wintry challenge in the coming days.