freezing rain
How is the polar vortex affecting the United States?
The polar vortex is causing extreme cold conditions across the United States, pushing temperatures down to dangerous levels that extend as far south as the Mexico border. More than 87 million people across 22 states are under extreme cold advisories, with temperatures plunging significantly below normal levels. In Fort Worth, Texas, temperatures have dropped to 19 degrees, with wind chills feeling as low as minus 2 degrees, creating hazardous conditions in a region unaccustomed to such extreme cold. This unusual weather pattern is expected to be temporary, with forecasts indicating a return to milder temperatures in the 70s by next week.
Watch clip answer (00:11m)
CBS News
00:00 - 00:12
How cold is it in Fort Worth during the polar vortex?
According to the CBS News Texas live report, Fort Worth is experiencing extreme cold with temperatures plunging to 19 degrees as a result of a polar vortex. The weather is significantly colder than usual for the area, with wind chill factors dropping as low as -2 degrees. This severe weather system is affecting not just Texas but has placed approximately 87 million people across 22 states under extreme cold advisories. Despite the current freezing conditions, the forecast indicates a dramatic shift, with temperatures potentially soaring back to the 70s by the following week.
Watch clip answer (00:10m)CBS News
00:25 - 00:36
What weather event did the anchors recall from when they lived in El Paso, Texas?
The anchors reminisced about a severe winter weather event they both experienced while living in El Paso, Texas. This unusual cold snap resulted in frozen pipes throughout the desert city, which was severe enough to cause the entire city to shut down. The female anchor specifically referred to it as "that year of the freak pipe freezing" in the desert, highlighting how extraordinary and disruptive the weather event was for the typically warm El Paso region.
Watch clip answer (00:12m)CBS News
01:55 - 02:08
Is 19 degrees normal for winter temperatures in Fort Worth, Texas?
According to CBS News Texas anchor Ken Molestina, 19 degrees is absolutely not normal for the Fort Worth area. The anchor reporting from Fort Worth confirms this unusually extreme cold is part of a larger weather system, with over 87 million people under extreme cold advisories due to a polar vortex. The severity of this cold snap is highlighted by the dramatic temperature drop - just a day earlier, temperatures were 40 degrees warmer. This Arctic blast has brought dangerously low wind chills across multiple states, reaching as low as minus 64 degrees in Montana, making this winter storm particularly notable for southern states like Texas where such extreme cold is rare.
Watch clip answer (00:19m)
CBS News
00:25 - 00:44
How severe is the current winter weather across the United States?
The current winter weather is extremely severe, with wind chills in Montana plummeting to a dangerous -64 degrees on Tuesday. A major winter storm is affecting the southern United States, bringing snow and sleet to multiple areas and creating hazardous driving conditions that have already led to highway crashes in states like Arkansas. The widespread impact of this polar vortex has placed over 87 million people across 22 states under extreme cold advisories, with Texas experiencing temperatures as low as 19 degrees - a dramatic 40-degree drop from the previous day.
Watch clip answer (00:12m)CBS News
00:12 - 00:25
How will Texas temperatures change next week after the current cold snap?
After experiencing extreme winter weather with temperatures plummeting to 19 degrees Fahrenheit, Texas is expected to see a dramatic weather shift next week. According to CBS News anchor Ken Molestina reporting from Fort Worth, temperatures will rebound significantly, climbing back into the 70s. This remarkable temperature swing highlights the unpredictable nature of Texas winters amid changing climate patterns. The current polar vortex and winter storm conditions affecting over 87 million people with dangerous wind chills will give way to springlike conditions, demonstrating the state's notoriously volatile weather patterns.
Watch clip answer (00:04m)CBS News
01:47 - 01:52