Extreme weather is sweeping across the United States. Friday, the polar vortex will peak, bringing freezing temperatures to much of the country.
The phenomenon that has the US frozen: What is happening with the polar vortex?
Winter storm warnings have been issued as more than half of the U.S. will be hit with low temperatures, ice and snow over the next week.
Some states can expect over a foot of snow all the way from Oklahoma to Massachusetts. Southern states will be hit with mixed precipitation and gusty wins will drop temperatures in the northern and central plains.
The polar vortex air is predicted to hit the United States again next week, bringing freezing temperatures to much of the country; but what is the polar vortex?
What is happening with the polar vortex?
A polar vortex is a low pressure system that forms in the polar regions. It is formed by a mass of cold air that rotates in a circular direction, acting as a kind of “dome” of very cold air around the poles. Although this phenomenon is present throughout the year, in winter, it intensifies.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the polar vortex can affect regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, bringing with it extreme cold snaps. If the vortex weakens or breaks up, the air it contains can move to lower latitudes, resulting in a “polar vortex explosion” and, therefore, extreme weather conditions.
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According to the AP, this polar vortex will make it take some time for the world to thaw as freezing temperatures continue to hit the region.
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