Wind Chill
What is causing the extreme cold weather in the US this season?
The extreme cold in the US is being caused by the 10th and coldest polar vortex event of this season. Meteorologists have explained that this phenomenon occurs when weather forces in the Arctic push chilly air that normally remains near the North Pole southward into the United States and Europe. This displacement of Arctic air is creating unusually cold conditions across parts of the country, leading to severe temperature drops and dangerous wind chills in affected regions.
Watch clip answer (00:14m)
WION
00:43 - 00:57
What are the effects of the current polar vortex on US weather conditions?
The polar vortex is causing life-threatening cold across a vast region from the Canadian border to Oklahoma and central Texas. Wind chills have dropped to extreme levels, reaching minus 51°C in North Dakota and minus 46°C in Montana, prompting the National Weather Service to issue extreme cold warnings for an 11-state area. Meteorologists have identified this as the 10th polar vortex event this season, with Arctic air expected to bring near-record cold temperatures across the US midsection by midweek. This severe weather follows weekend storms that caused flooding in the eastern United States, creating compounding hazardous conditions across multiple regions.
Watch clip answer (00:49m)
WION
00:00 - 00:49