Frigid air will follow the snowstorm and overtake the US

Daily high temperatures will struggle to get above zero in many parts of the central United States over the holiday weekend. Overnight lows will be even frigid.

An Arctic air mass barreling south from Canada will spread the coldest air of the season yet across much of the country. Temperatures dropped to minus 20 or lower in parts of the Midwest and Upper Plains early Friday, and cold air is expected to spread into the Deep South through the weekend, bringing freezing temperatures.

However, major cities in the Northeast, including New York, won't be as cold.

Temperatures will remain below zero in the Northern Plains until early next week, with highs for the Central Plains only in the single digits on Saturday. In some places there could be daily record lows – as low as minus 40 – on Saturday morning.

Des Moines is expected to reach a high of minus 5 on Sunday and minus 3 on Monday, when the state's presidential caucuses will take place. And during a windy game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night, the field could feel as cold as minus 35.

The widespread gusty winds make it even more dangerous to be outside. The wind chill can make it feel significantly colder than the air temperature and lead to frostbite within minutes.

Hundreds of daily cold records could be broken Monday as Arctic air plunges south, bringing freezing temperatures near the Gulf Coast. Snow or ice could fall along the edge of the cold air mass early next week in the South and the Mid-Atlantic, but the forecast remained uncertain on Friday.