Reuters, Chicago :
Bitter cold and high winds from the arctic pushed wind chills to dangerous levels across the US upper midwest on Monday, forcing officials to close schools and slowing public transit and river traffic.
A winter storm system is forecast to move through the US south on Tuesday, bringing snow, freezing rain and high winds as bitter cold temperatures continue in the midwest, according to the National Weather Service.
Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and other parts of the upper midwest are forecast to have a second consecutive day of subzero highs on Tuesday, while most of the Northeast will see highs in the single digits and teens on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Accuweather.com.
National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Krein blamed the weather on a surge of arctic high pressure out of Canada that has spread over the upper midwest and central plains.
Even weather-hardy midwesterners expressed weariness on Monday with the sub-zero cold snap, the second this month.
“I’m real sick of it,” said Romik Stewart, 20, who was waiting for a bus in Milwaukee to go to his job at a fast food restaurant. “I’ve had enough of this already. It’s too much.”
The weather will force schools to close on Tuesday in New Orleans, Minneapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee, and government offices in Indianapolis, Galveston and Milwaukee County will also be closed.
Tulane University in New Orleans, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and The Ohio State University in Columbus have canceled classes ahead of Tuesday’s storm.
Amtrak has also canceled a number of train routes in and out of Chicago on Tuesday because of the frigid weather conditions.
For much of the South, a winter storm warning will be in effect on Tuesday, including in New Orleans where winds will gust and ice and snow will accumulate on the roads, making travel hazardous, according to the National Weather Service.
Heavy snow was expected beginning on Tuesday across eastern North Carolina, while coastal South Carolina will get rare ice accumulation with some snow and temperatures will be below freezing on Tuesday and Wednesday, the National Weather Service predicts.
