Arctic blast promises a frigid Veterans Day in the Midwest

Winter is officially more than a month away. But an Arctic blast packing the coldest air of the season is headed toward much of the United States, threatening to break dozens of daily temperature records and prompting some Veterans Day organizers to make new plans.

Temperatures will be 15 to 25 degrees below normal over the eastern twothirds of the United States early in the week, the National Weather Service said. The agency expects record-setting cold for Monday through Wednesday, and the chilliest temperatures are forecast for Wednesday on the East Coast.

It is the second Arctic front to cross part of the country in recent days; the first caused temperatures to drop on the East Coast from Thursday into Saturday morning.

The weather predictions are unwelcome news for organizers of Veterans Day ceremonies across the country Monday.

The forecast may not be as unusual as a temperature swing Nov. 11, 1911, when both a record high of 82 degrees and a record low of 13 degrees were recorded in Columbia, Mo. But it is causing some worry nonetheless.

The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Mo., is hosting a full slate of events over the weekend but is taking precautions for an expected spike in visitor traffic.

A ceremony Monday will be held indoors, said Mike Vietti, communications director for the museum.

In Minnesota, a group of a couple of dozen veterans was planning to walk 11 miles from Minneapolis to the State Capitol in St. Paul on Monday to commemorate the signing of the Armistice Nov. 11, 1918.

At the Capitol, they will ring a replica Liberty Bell 11 times at 11 a.m. (The forecast, at least, is a tad higher than 11 degrees.)

“We’re used to the cold; it’s just going to be a stroll for us,” said Michael McDonald, 70, who served as an Army Reserve soldier during the Vietnam War. He said that the group, made up mostly of Vietnam veterans, would be fine as long as it was “above zero.”