Polar Vortex are strong cold winds that generally blow around the north pole in the Arctic, in an anti-clockwise direction. It is a whirlpool of freezing dense air. These winds usually keep the cold Arctic air from moving away from the Arctic region of the northern hemisphere. However, in some exceptional cases, it can move southward towards areas of human occupation in places like Canada and the United States. This phenomenon occurs only in regions of northern hemisphere like North America and Europe. Polar vortex doesn’t take place frequently, but whenever it happens it affects the lives of people as the outdoor temperature drops to alarmingly low figures making it difficult for people to come out and do their daily activities.
The latest news coming in from the United States suggests the occurrence of Polar Vortex in the mid-western and eastern parts of the country. Many of the cities in these areas recorded temperatures lower than most parts of Antarctica. Chicago and St. Louis were severely hit as they recorded temperatures of -24 and -25 degree Celsius respectively. This has broken the record of the year 1988 when similar conditions developed. The aftermath of such weather was quite apparent since many deaths were reported as a result of the cold conditions. In many parts of the country the Christmas holiday was extended indefinitely. Even the state of Florida, down south which is known for its tropical climate recorded sub-zero temperatures. The extreme cold weather was unbearable even for the polar bear in a zoo in downtown Chicago.
Experts consider this phenomenon as a consequence of global warming. However, it cannot be established with certainty. The weather department has predicted similar cold conditions to prevail for a few more days to come with marginal rise in temperatures.