Forecasters warn that temperatures as low as -15C (12F), are expected to bring arctic conditions in large parts of the US during the Christmas season.

Experts have warned that the polar blast headed for the already frigid southern US will likely endanger the lives and ruin holiday plans for many.

Zack Taylor, National Weather Service meteorologist, stated that “We’re seeing much-below-normal temperatures, potentially record low temperatures leading up to Christmas holiday.”

The service issued a special weather advisory on Sunday warning of “extremely and prolonged freezing conditions in southern Mississippi and southeast Louisiana”.

Advertisement

This cold snap follows a large freeze that dumped as much as 61cm (2ft), of snow onto the Northeastern US. More than 80,000 New Englanders were without power on Sunday morning according to poweroutage.us. The site tracks outages throughout the country.

The National Weather Service (NWS), has predicted that temperatures will drop to -15C in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday night. On Thursday, it could fall to -11C in Jackson, Mississippi.

Weather Prediction Centre warned that the next seven days could be “the coldest air in the season” due to strong artic fronts hitting the eastern two-thirds of the country just days before Christmas.

Forecasters for the storm predicted that it would bring a “massive amount of frigid temperature from the Northern Rockies to the Midwest, then on to the Gulf Coast and most of the eastern US by Friday.

Utility companies in the north east brought extra workers from other states, but were hindered by dangerous roads and slippery roads.

Frank Pereira, NWS meteorologist, stated that “This was heavy, wet snow so it had impacts both on travel and the infrastructure.”

Since Friday night, New England police responded to more that 180 accidents.

Officials in Vermont have stated that power might not be restored for some customers for up to three days.

Montana is one of the states that are already experiencing severe cold temperatures, with temperatures dropping to -16C (4F) Sunday night.