Louisville weather: Will we see a white Christmas? What to expect as 'brutal' cold moves into region

Dangerously cold wind chills are set to sweep across the Midwest this week, bringing extremely cold temperatures and possible snow to the Louisville area, according to a new report from the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists from the agency said widespread rain and possible minor snow accumulations Thursday night into Friday morning are likely. The cold front is anticipated to impact the region with wind gusts from 40 to 50 mph on Friday and wind chill values between -10 to -20 degrees in the Louisville Metro area during overnight hours from Thursday through Saturday.

Temperatures in the region will not move back up above freezing conditions until "at least" Monday, the agency said. Snow that falls Thursday in Louisville or Friday could stick through the weekend, as the city prepares to celebrate Christmas on Sunday, but don't get your hopes up, said Ron Steve, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Louisville.

"There is very likely going to be snow," he said. "What's not as likely is that there's going to be much of it."

The forecast is still fluid, but Brian Neudorff, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Louisville, said on Friday there's a strong possibility a cold front will roll into the region Thursday and heading into the upcoming holiday weekend. If you're planning to travel toward the end of the week, he said, you should keep an eye out for updates.

"The real one, the big one that we're watching, the one that's the most important, is going to be going into late Wednesday into Thursday, when an Arctic front is going to swing its way through and it's going to drop temperatures — we're talking some very bitter cold air to come in on Thursday ... right before the holiday," Neudorff said.

The massive surge of Arctic air will send temperatures plummeting around the nation throughout the week, with forecasters predicting below-average temperatures from the Plains to the East Coast.

Woolly worms and hedge apples:What is nature telling us about the winter weather forecast

"This storm will likely become intense, feeding on the extremely sharp variation between the surging arctic air arriving from the Central states and relatively warm air across the Southeastern U.S.," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter told USA TODAY.

Forecasters said the weather system will make for hazardous travel conditions with slippery roads being the primary concern.

"Friday is going to be a brutal winter day," said Steve. "... People need to be aware of that possibility."

Safety tips for holiday extreme cold

During the chilly season, it can be difficult to figure out the right methods of staying warm while saving on a costly winter energy bill. The National Weather Service put together extreme cold safety tips to keep you safe this holiday:

• Minimize travel

• Stay indoors during the worst times of extreme cold

• Keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle if you need to travel

• Check your car's tire pressure, antifreeze levels, heater/defrosters, etc.

More winter tips:How to keep your pipes from freezing this winter in Kentucky

Weeklong forecast for Louisville

• Monday, Dec. 19: High of 38, low of 29. Cloudy.

• Tuesday, Dec. 20: High of 46, low of 29. Partly cloudy.

• Wednesday, Dec. 21: High of 46, low of 38. Mostly cloudy.

• Thursday, Dec. 22: High of 43, low of 12. 73% chance of showers.

• Friday, Dec. 23: High of 16, low of 1. Chance of morning snow showers and strong winds.

• Saturday, Dec. 24: High of 14, low of 7. Partly cloudy.

• Sunday, Dec. 25: High of 21, low of 13. Partly cloudy.

Reporters Rae Johnson and Ana Alvarez Briñez contributed. Contact Caleb Stultz at cstultz@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Caleb_Stultz.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville weather: Bomb cyclone could bring snow to area