Polar Vortex Envelops Large Area of U.S. in Record-Breaking Cold, According to Reuters

A surge of frigid arctic air has brought extremely hazardous and potentially record-breaking cold temperatures across a significant portion of the United States. This chilling weather pattern stretches from the Dakotas to Maine, with anticipated snowfall reaching as far south as Alabama and Georgia.

Midwestern cities have opened warming shelters as temperatures dropped drastically, plunging well below zero degrees Fahrenheit (minus 17.8 degrees Celsius). In response to the extreme cold, hundreds of schools have been closed, and over 1,000 flights have been canceled, including those headed to Atlanta just days prior to the NFL’s Super Bowl.

According to the National Weather Service, the Midwest is expected to bear the brunt of this cold snap, with wind chill values potentially falling to minus 50F (minus 46C) in and around Chicago and northern Illinois by Tuesday evening. Forecasts predict snowfall of up to two feet (60 cm) in Wisconsin and around six inches (15 cm) in parts of Illinois.

NWS forecaster Jim Hayes urged residents to heed local advice, emphasizing the potential peril, especially for travelers. He warned that frostbite could occur within just 10 minutes in such extreme temperatures and stated that it may take days for conditions to improve noticeably.

The severe cold weather is attributed to the polar vortex, a mass of icy air that typically circulates around the North Pole but has shifted southward into the United States.

Additionally, areas including Washington D.C., Alabama, and Mississippi are expected to see some snowfall in the coming days. Central and northern Georgia might receive about 2 inches (5 cm) or more of snow, accompanied by freezing rain that could lead to hazardous road conditions. In preparation for the storm, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced the closure of government offices in 35 counties, while numerous schools across the state were also shut down.

Delta Air Lines canceled 170 flights at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Monday due to de-icing measures. On Tuesday, around half of the flights departing from Chicago’s Midway International Airport were also called off.

Blizzard conditions are anticipated in parts of the western Ohio Valley, and snowfall is expected to continue through Wednesday, affecting regions from the Great Lakes to New England.

In light of the severe weather, states of emergency have been declared from Wisconsin and Michigan down to Alabama and Mississippi.