A polar vortex is descending over the United States. What does that mean? : NPR

Bone-chilling temperatures will envelop millions of Americans this weekend, herding days off cool temperatures and life-threatening conditions next week.

People living “basically anywhere from the Rockies eastward will see below-normal temperatures over the next few days,” said Zack Taylor, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center. “Especially the Rockies, the northern Plains, the Upper Midwest, are expected to see these wind chill readings as low as minus 30 to maybe as low as minus 40 or minus 50 this weekend into early next week.” Such low temperatures pose a high risk of hypothermia and frostbite on any exposed skin, Taylor warned.

These conditions are all thanks to a familiar sound phenomenon: the polar vortex, a large area of ​​low pressure and cold air that surrounds the Earth’s poles. The “eddy” is the counterclockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air close to the North and South Poles. But often during the winter, the polar vortex will expand and bring its cold air south, causing these notoriously large bursts of cool temperatures.

“This will be one of the more far-reaching outbreaks of cold air of the season so far,” Taylor said.

Areas not used to freezing, or below freezing, forecasts like the South and Mid-Atlantic won’t be spared and could reach some record-breaking daily temperatures, Taylor said.

Monday’s forecasts for areas including Dallas, Atlanta and Charlotte, NC, indicate high temperatures will drop below freezing. Morning low temperatures could drop below freezing as far south as Houston, New Orleans and Tallahassee, Fla., Monday and Tuesday morning — between 20 and 30 degrees below normal for this time of year, Taylor said.

But elsewhere in the country — where it will no doubt still be really, really cold — the weather is not expected to break any major records, Taylor said. “The expected temperatures and wind chill are certainly worth noting, and again could be dangerous to life-threatening for some areas, whether it breaks records or not.”

Does climate change have anything to do with the frequent cold?

In general, no place is safe from climate change, and research shows that climate change is a major driver of extreme weather.

As for the cause of extreme cold, the jury is still out. Some researchers think there is a connection between climate change and the impact of the Arctic and polar vortex activity, but for others this is still an active area of ​​study.

What is clear is that many areas of the central and eastern United States are experiencing a colder-than-normal January, Taylor said. Those areas have been “kind of stuck in this pattern where we’ve had periods of colder weather basically since the beginning of the month. And that pattern looks to continue really through the end of the month,” Taylor said.

Tips for surviving and thriving despite the cold

If possible, it makes the most sense to stay indoors during this cold period. But life goes on regardless of the temperatures outside.

This weekend, four NFL playoff games continue as scheduled in Kansas City, Detroit, Philadelphia and Buffalo, NY

Another Chiefs home playoff game, another arctic blast. Is Kansas City ready for the cold?

Detroit, which is expected facing lows of 6 to 10 degrees and chills as low as 4 degrees below zero, at least has a domed football stadium where spectators can watch the Lions play the Washington Commanders in person.

The same cannot be said elsewhere. When the Houston Texans meet the Chiefs in Kansas City on Saturday they could play in temperatures in the single digits.

The Eagles and Los Angeles Rams could play in some snow in Philadelphia on Sunday, early forecasts show. And in bitterly cold Buffalo, the Baltimore Ravens and Bills will battle for a spot in the Conference Championship in temperatures of around 10 degrees.

On Monday, the coldest air of the season will fly into Washington, DC, for President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. It is set to be the coldest inauguration day since President Ronald Reagan’s in 1985, when the midday temperature reached just 7 degrees and wind chill temperatures were between 10 and 20 degrees below zero. according to historical data. The current forecast in DC for Monday is a high of 22 with gusts of 30 mph, making it much colder, Taylor said.

For anyone set to experience the dangerously cold temperatures, Taylor recommends limiting the amount of skin exposed to the air and cutting back on time spent outdoors as much as possible.

Taylor suggests keeping a cold weather survival kitpacked with things like a phone charger, jumper cables, snacks and water, close at hand and in the car.

Of course, dress warmly and in layers — like an onion, recommends NPR’s Life Kit. It should include a moisture wicking first layer, an insulating piece (like a flannel shirt) and finally a wind insulating top layer.