Posted on 01/01/2025 1:56:52 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
Meteorologists are raising alarms over worsening polar vortex conditions that could bring extreme cold and widespread disruptions.
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.
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.
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...
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Well, guess I’ll need to get my winter jacket out.
It’s OK if I don’t panic, right?
I'm convinced the general public wants to be force fed everything, including what to think, sadly.
I’m not worried about normal January temperatures in Wisconsin...
Right? I don’t remember things like “polar vortexes” and “atmospheric rivers” when I was a kid. We just had cold snaps and rainstorms. Sometimes even a tropical storm.
“ will also be hit by the polar vortex, with very cold temperatures in the 20s and 30s on New Year’s Day, forecasts show.”
OMG! 20s and 30s in the Northern US in January?
Must be bird flu!
“…United States. Though many residents…”
Who wrote this?
Newsweek. This country is what? An office building?
IOW, it’s January.
CC
WARNING!!
WARNING!!
The Earth is turning on its axis!! Film at 11!
Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
“In”Accuweather?
Oh! Colorado in the 20’s and 30’s on New Years! WOW! Shocking.
of the century
Sounds series, and possibly hughe...
Why It Matters To Us
What I Want You To Know
What People I Know Are Saying
-PJ
Rich people still took off for Florida to escape winter.
And they weren't treated childishly with "Why It Matters" and "What To Know."
I DO like "Washington was as hot as a Senate investigation." LOL.
Low temperature next week of 12 on Friday. So I will be able to ice fish the weekend after this. This is good news all around.
In Phoenix, a polar vortex is when the temp dips below 60 and all the women get to wear their winter boots.
Polar vortices and polar jet streams are symptoms, not causes of weather events.
A cold polar air mass is not “steered” by jet streams, they cause jet streams at their boundaries with lower latitude and tropical air masses.
For an analogy, the detritus left on a beach at high tide is the result of the water masses at its edge. It is not the cause of the high tide.f. Likewise, the jet stream is caused by the differences in the polar and mid-latitude air masses.
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