2017's year-end arctic blast has turned deadly. Both a man and a dog have frozen to death in Ohio. USA TODAY
A brutal shot of arctic air is set to lock much of the U.S. from the Plains to the East Coast in a bone-chilling deep freeze for New Year's Day, with temperatures expected to plunge to around zero in northern Oklahoma.
Near the Canadian border in the Midwest, temperatures could fall to the minus 30s on Sunday and New Year's Day, according to the National Weather Service.
"While the level of cold will vary from one day to the next, indications are that the frigid weather will linger through the first week of January in the Central and Eastern states," according to AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Max Vido.
In New York City, the fire department will add extra personnel on the streets to provide medical support for the annual Times Square celebration, which could be the coldest on record.
More: It’s so cold out, a dog froze, sharks died and road salt is useless
Authorities warned revelers who plan to watch the annual New Year's Eve ball drop to dress in layers, cover exposed skin, lay off the alcohol and bring some hand warmers.
The coldest New Year’s Eve in Times Square came in 1917, when it was 1 degree at midnight. This year, the forecast is for 11 degrees with a wind chill around zero, which would tie for second with 1962.
In Maine, the harsh weather prompted organizer of the Lobster Dip at Old Orchard Beach to reschedule the event for the first time in 30 years.
In addition, Maine Gov. Paul LePage has signed an emergency proclamation to avoid delays in the delivery of heating oil to residents throughout the holiday weekend. The proclamation allows for a waiver from the federal Department of Transportation to permit oil delivery workers to stay on the road longer than normally allowed to make sure homes and businesses get supplies. The order stays in effect until Jan. 5.
In Philadelphia, officials are taking a wait-and-see approach on whether they’ll hold the annual Mummers Day Parade.
A coating of light snow is also expected from the Ohio Valley across the Appalachians, and into the northern Mid-Atlantic before reaching southern New England Saturday.
While most areas could see around two inches of snow, some spots already hard-hit around the Great Lakes can expect another round of heavy snow, from six to 12 inches possible.
While snow is not likely to accumulate in the mid-Atlantic regions, travelers along the heavily traveled I-95 should expect slow, slippery driving conditions.
Wind chill watches and warning have been issued for northern and central Plains and the Midwest, with wind chills likely to drop to minus-50. The bitter cold is expected in hit major cities as Bismarck, N.D., Omaha, Nebr., Kansas City, Mo., and Chicago.
In southeast Nebraska, the NWS warns of dangerously cold wind chills that could cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes to exposed skin.
Farther west, heavy mountain snow and some lingering freezing rain will lead to dangerous travel conditions into the weekend across the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies.
In Montana, an avalanche Friday night closed a stretch of Highway 200 just east of the intersection with Montana Highway 141.
Contributing: Associated Press