Big freeze coming for millions

FARGO, N.D., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A blast of frigid Arctic air is about to give 200 million people a wake-up call that winter is coming.

The polar vortex — the coldest air in the Northern hemisphere which usually sits atop the globe — is about to become dislodged by what's left of Super Typhoon Nuri as it heads for Alaska, and sweep south, plunging great swathes of the US and Canada into the big chill.

"When a typhoon curves away from Asia it causes the jet stream farther to the east across the Pacific and into North America to buckle and amplify days later," pushing Arctic air into the lower 48, explained a meteorologist.

The cold will stretch from the Dakotas to Texas and the Interstate-95 corridor by the end of next week and could hang around until the middle of the month.

The "biggest shock" will hit North Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, according to meteorologists. But Plains states temperatures could plunge 40 degrees and midwestern states could see teens or single digits, with snow and wind. December-like cold will hit the South and Atlantic Seaboard.

"It looks like winter's starting early," said National Weather Service forecaster Bob Oravec.