Winter Weather to Come as Polar Vortex Awaits Movement into Much of U.S.

As much of the U.S. has enjoyed mild winter weather so far this season, reality will set in as another Polar Vortex arrives in Western Canada and reaches the U.S. Northern Plains this week. Temperatures have fallen to 20 to 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit and even lower in some spots. However, the vortex hasn’t shown much movement, as a high pressure system across the southern U.S. has kept the cold largely locked in place and will continue to do so through the remainder of the year. This same pressure ridge has been responsible for bringing near-tropical temperatures to the southern U.S. where temperatures have been 20 to 30 degrees above normal.

This weekend’s forecast shows the ridge will weaken this weekend, where the energy behind the polar vortex will likely quickly advance eastward through the U.S. The nuances and patterns of these forecasts are typical of La Niña weather patterns.

Read more on cold weather forecasts here.