You’ve probably heard the term “polar vortex” a lot today.
From the Midwest to the Northeast to as far south as Alabama, a whirlpool of dense, frigid air all the way from the North Pole.
The vortex brought . Temperatures fell well below zero in Indiana, North Dakota, Minnesota and other states. By Monday, .
As it turns out, a polar vortex isn’t just a term coined my meteorologists — it’s a real weather occurrence.
NASA explains that , and they feature winds that spin counterclockwise above the pole.
— think of a polar vortex as a snowy, Arctic version of its tropical counterpart.
But this isn’t the first time the world’s seen a polar vortex. and form every winter over the Arctic, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Normally, vortexes are confined to the polar region, NOAA explains. However, when a vortex’s wind rings break down, cold air can spill out, blasting the U.S. with chilly conditions. A 2009-2010 vortex breakdown contributed to that winter’s massive snowstorms.
NOAA scientists suggest that warmer conditions in the Arctic would weaken the vortex and push frigid winds south.
Forecasts show , NBC News reports.
Of course, it’s hard to predict if we’ll see another vortex before the winter’s end.
