Arctic Air Mass Sweeps South From Canada, Driving Record Cold On Dec 13‑14, a frigid air mass descended from Canada into Washington, Oregon and Idaho, pushing wind‑chill values to –33 °F in Grand Forks, ND, and lows of –15 °F in Minneapolis, while southern states saw temperatures near 20 °F [1]. The cold front spread rapidly across the Midwest and the South, prompting wind‑chill and cold‑weather advisories as far as Alabama and Georgia [1]. Meteorologists noted the air mass will linger, maintaining sub‑freezing conditions through the weekend [1].

Flood Recovery Continues Amid Thousands of Evacuations and Large Animal Rescue Catastrophic rains earlier in the week forced thousands of Washington residents to abandon homes, including Eddie Wicks, his wife, their dog and livestock rescued from a flooded field by sheriff’s deputies [1][2]. County officials are sheltering roughly 170 horses, 140 chickens and 90 goats at a park north of Seattle, while cleanup crews dig out homes and roads [1][2]. Governor Bob Ferguson warned the recovery will be “expensive, time‑consuming and potentially dangerous,” as residents in Burlington and other towns begin clearing debris [1][2].

Forecasters Warn of Additional Rain, Wind, and Flood Risks National Weather Service meteorologist Reid Wolcott cautioned that saturated soils and lingering storms could trigger more mudslides, tree failures and power outages later Sunday [1][2]. He emphasized that the region is not done with the weather, urging continued preparedness for heavy rain and gusty winds [1][2]. Officials expect the combination of cold air and lingering moisture to prolong flooding hazards across the Pacific Northwest [2].