At a Glance

• A blast of arctic cold air is plunging into the U.S.

• Several daily cold records will be in jeopardy.

• Dangerously cold wind chills are also expected, especially in the Northern Plains and Rockies.

• This generally colder pattern could hang on until the last full week of January or longer.

A?n arctic cold outbreak will deliver record-setting, frigid air to parts of the country, including the Deep South through Wednesday. Daily records for mid-January could be broken from Oregon to the Gulf Coast. The cold air will have some staying power into the second half of January for some.

W?hen It Will Happen: T?he first plunge of cold air already surged south through the Plains. A reporting station near Chester, Montana, plunged to minus 54 degrees Saturday morning. Watson Lake, British Columbia, Canada, plunged to minus 57 degrees.