Polar vortex cold weather forecast

You know winter is here when you hear the word “polar vortex” banded about. But what exactly is a polar vortex, and do they really make our winters colder? Literally translated from Latin, a polar vortex is a low-pressure area in the polar regions that spins counterclockwise and brings with it cold air. The jet stream typically keeps this cold weather locked in the polar regions, but it can sometimes weaken or become wavy, allowing the polar vortex to dip further south and bring its cold weather with it.

This is what happened in early 2014, when a polar vortex brought record-breaking cold temperatures to North America. The cold snap caused widespread power outages, school closures, and even deaths. It was a good example of how a tiny distrubance at the top of the world can have a big impact on our weather patterns closer to home.

Polar vortexes are a natural part of the weather patterns of the world, and they're not always associated with extreme cold snaps. But they did contribute to the severe winters of 2014 and 2015, and they could be making more frequent appearances in the future. So, when you hear a weather forecaster talking about the polar vortex, you might want to start thinking about getting out your winter coat.

• Polar vortexes are low-pressure areas in the polar regions that spin counterclockwise and bring with them cold air
• The jet stream typically keeps this cold weather locked in the polar regions, but it can sometimes weaken or become wavy, allowing the polar vortex to dip further south and bring its cold weather with it
• Polar vortexes are a natural part of the weather patterns of the world, and they're not always associated with extreme cold snaps