World News | What is a Polar Vortex? US Gets Taste of Arctic
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. The term "polar vortex" usually refers to the gigantic circular upper air weather pattern in the Arctic region. It is a normal pattern that is stronger in the winter and keeps some of the coldest weather bottled up near the North Pole.
New York, Feb 18 (AP) The term "polar vortex" usually refers to the gigantic circular upper air weather pattern in the Arctic region. It is a normal pattern that is stronger in the winter and keeps some of the coldest weather bottled up near the North Pole.
But at times some of the vortex can break off or move south, bringing unusually cold weather south and permitting warmer weather to creep up north.
This week, parts of the US are experiencing the 10th and coldest polar vortex event this season. Weather forces in the Arctic are combining to push the chilly air into the US and Europe.
With record snow in New Orleans last month and drought and destructive wildfires in southern California, this winter has not been normal.
The latest projected cold outbreak will bring bone-chilling temperatures to the northern and central plains for several days, starting Sunday.
Wind chills dropped to minus 51 degrees Celsius in parts of North Dakota on Monday and minus 46 degrees in parts of Montana. Wind chills were expected to dip even lower Tuesday morning.
"Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. An extended period of freezing temperatures could cause ruptured water pipes," the National Weather Service warned.
Meteorologists expect strong winds to make the cold feel even worse. Every US state but Hawaii, California and Florida have some or all parts forecast to have a good chance of windchills of 20 degrees or below sometime next week, the National Weather Service predicted.
Some experts say disruptions to polar vortexes are happening more frequently because of a warming world. A warmer Artic gives more energy to atmospheric waves that can drive weather patterns, making the waves more likely to disrupt the vortex and move colder air south into lower latitudes.
Despite the unusually cold winter across the US, the world remains in an overall warming pattern. Earth's average overall temperature set yet another monthly heat record in January. It was the 18th month of the last 19 that the world hit or passed the internationally agreed upon warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)