Polar Vortex Forecast Gets Worse as Meteorologists Sound Alarm

Newsweek ^ | Jan 01, 2025 at 7:09 AM EST | Martha McHardy

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Meteorologists are raising alarms over worsening polar vortex conditions that could bring extreme cold and widespread disruptions.

Why It Matters

So far, this winter has seen one of the warmest Decembers on record in much of the northern United States. Though many residents experienced snow around the holidays, snow coverage was still at or near 20-year lows.

However, the polar vortex could bring severe weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, that could affect travel conditions or prompt school closures.

What To Know

According to temperature outlook data, mapped by Pivotal Weather, North Dakota could see temperatures as low as 8 degrees on New Year's Day and wind chills as low as -14 degrees. Meanwhile, other states like Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming could see temperatures in the teens.

Surrounding states including Colorado, Idaho, Washington, South Dakota, Iowa and Michigan will also be hit by the polar vortex, with very cold temperatures in the 20s and 30s on New Year's Day, forecasts show.

A polar vortex is a stream of cold air that normally spins around the poles high in the stratosphere. The phenomenon, which blasts Arctic air across part of North America, can disrupt weather patterns.

When the polar vortex becomes weakened, it can lead to colder weather in the eastern United States. When a sudden stratospheric warming occurs, the vortex stretches or even splits with its center away from the pole. The stretch causes the air "leak" into the atmosphere, making the winter even colder.

AccuWeather reported that the vortex could prompt "some of the coldest air of the season" during February.

What People Are Saying

Meteorologist Ryan Maue said on X, formerly Twitter: "And, just as I was noting that the 'Arctic cold' wasn't of 'old fashioned' vintage, the GFS 18z drops -36°C at 850 mb into the central U.S. That would be...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Polar Vortex = Winter Weather

[Steely Tom]

A Perfect Polar Vortex Bomb Storm.

[V_TWIN]

Get used to it.....it’ll be all bad news all the time until 1/20/2025.......and then it’ll get worse.

[fso301]

Now I am really scared.

Life was so much better when the worse we could get was the occasional Arctic/Siberian Express.

[V_TWIN]

You forgot “cyclone tsunami”

[crusty old prospector]

You forgot Atmospheric River.

[BipolarBob]

New York looks like a goner.

[PGR88]

Why it may even drop down to 14 Degrees. F at night in Detroit in January!

the horror!

[KarlInOhio]

Pretty soon the only polar bear left in the wild will move to Minnesota and eat everyone.

[central_va]

AOC could not be reached for comment.

[HYPOCRACY]

Hope all the illegals freeze to death.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Off topic, but I hate this ridiculous and thoroughly childish modern writing style:

Why It Matters

What To Know

What People Are Saying

When I read an article, I expect to figure those things out for myself without a weak author explicitly telling me why it matters, what I need to know, what people are saying, etc.

[The Louiswu]

“ it’ll be all bad news all the time until 1/20/2025.......and then it’ll get worse.”

---

THIS👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[Fresh Wind]

I’ll have to see what AccuPanic has to say about this.

[Steely Tom]

How To Connect It To Trump Voters

[4Liberty]

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Meanwhile, 100 ft waves are battering all of the California coast from the Oregon border to Mexico. It's horrible! Piers are collapsing!

[V_TWIN]

newsweak just took chicken little to a whole new level of dramatic bullshit

[Tax-chick]

O noes! Cold weather in January!!! Whatever shall we do?!?

[EvilCapitalist]

So in other words, we’re going to get a cold snap. Or normal weather for this time of year.