Wind Chill
How is the polar vortex affecting middle America and the eastern United States?
The polar vortex is bringing freezing conditions with ice, cold temperatures, and snow across middle America and extending into the eastern United States. Millions of Americans from Minneapolis to Dallas are experiencing record low temperatures, with Dallas seeing temperatures as low as 19°F and wind chills making it feel like 2°F. Residents are bundling up and navigating slick, icy roads, though many are choosing to stay home altogether. The severe weather is causing school closures and raising concerns about Texas's energy grid due to unusually high demand. This significant weather event is uncharacteristic for February and is expected to continue with more cold spells predicted.
Watch clip answer (00:24m)
CBS News
00:00 - 00:25
How cold is it in Dallas during the polar vortex?
Dallas is experiencing extreme cold conditions with temperatures at approximately 19 degrees Fahrenheit, but the wind chill makes it feel like just 2 degrees. The severity of this cold snap is highlighted by CBS News correspondent Omar Villafranca, who points out that it's actually warmer in Reykjavik, Iceland and Anchorage, Alaska than in Dallas, Texas. This unusual weather pattern is part of a polar vortex affecting multiple states, creating hazardous conditions and raising concerns about energy consumption and rising electric bills across the affected regions.
Watch clip answer (00:15m)CBS News
00:34 - 00:50
How does this polar vortex impact Americans throughout the states?
The polar vortex is causing widespread disruption across the United States with school cancellations and work schedule changes being the immediate effects. One of the most significant impacts will be extraordinarily high electric bills as households struggle to stay warm in temperatures that plunged as low as -64 degrees Fahrenheit in Montana. This extreme weather event is far from normal for February, creating dangerous conditions that affect millions of Americans' daily lives. The severity of the cold snap highlights both the safety concerns and financial strain facing families as they navigate through this unprecedented winter weather phenomenon.
Watch clip answer (00:21m)
CBS News
02:43 - 03:04
How severe is the cold weather in Dallas due to the polar vortex?
Dallas is experiencing extreme cold with temperatures at roughly 19 degrees but feeling like 2 degrees due to wind chill. The reporter notes it's colder in Dallas than in Reykjavik, Iceland and Anchorage, Alaska. This cold snap has moved down from the north, affecting a large region from Wyoming to Oklahoma with heavy snowfall. The frigid conditions are impacting roads and travel, with high winds creating particular challenges for high-profile vehicles like 18-wheelers, though Texas highways are currently moving without major accidents.
Watch clip answer (00:52m)
CBS News
00:34 - 01:27
How is the polar vortex affecting temperatures in Dallas, Texas?
Dallas is experiencing extreme cold with temperatures at approximately 19 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind chill making it feel like just 2 degrees. The conditions are so severe that it's actually warmer in Reykjavik, Iceland and Anchorage, Alaska than in Dallas right now. This polar vortex is affecting a wide region from Minneapolis to Texas, forcing millions of Americans to navigate slick roads or stay indoors to avoid the dangerous conditions.
Watch clip answer (00:50m)CBS News
00:00 - 00:50
How does this polar vortex impact Americans throughout the states?
The polar vortex is causing widespread disruption across the U.S., with school cancellations, work disruptions, and rising electric bills. Temperatures have plunged to extreme levels, including a feels-like temperature of -64°F in Montana, with many areas experiencing 30-40 degrees below normal temperatures for February. This cold surge is sweeping from the Dakotas all the way to the Mexico border, affecting millions of Americans simultaneously. The weather system is accompanied by a winter storm bringing heavy rain to southern states, with cities from Oklahoma to New York experiencing unusually brutal cold conditions during what meteorologists emphasize is an abnormal weather pattern for this time of year.
Watch clip answer (01:45m)
CBS News
02:43 - 04:28