Dangerously cold weather will put much of the United States into a deep freeze over the weekend as temperatures are expected to plunge by up to 40 degrees behind an Arctic air mass.

A potent shot of Arctic air starts settling in Monday as a massive dip in the jet stream pulls in frigid air across the entire eastern half of the country. Temperatures are set to drop as low as 20 degrees below average Tuesday and Wednesday with highs only reaching the teens, with lows in the single digits and even plunging below zero.

With the Arctic freeze on its way to Colorado and expected to last for several days, it's important to keep your pets well-protected during this deep freeze.

An arctic front will sweep across Texas, bringing freezing temperatures and snow chances, NOAA reports with impacts expected statewide by Sunday.

With an arctic blast on the way, Texas officials want to make sure people understand weather conditions are about to change.

As a slug of polar vortex-fueled arctic air overtakes the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. next week, a storm system could bring snow, sleet and freezing rain to places deep in the heart of Texas, but the forecast isn’t a lock just yet.