Polar Vortex to Bring 'Frigid' Temperatures to the U.S. — How Cold Could It Get in Your Area?

Mar. 15, 2025

Wintry scene shaowing single figure with umbrella walking between trees amd battling the snow and wind.Photo:Gillian Henry/Getty

Gillian Henry/Getty

A polar vortex is about to impact the United States and deliver what the National Weather Service has described as “the coldest air of the season to date.”

Meteorologists predict the surge of arctic air will push south through central and eastern portions of the U.S. to start the new year, according to theWeather Prediction Center.

Meanwhile, some northern states could see temperatures fall below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Forecasters believe the “frigid” arctic air will last “through the weekend” for the impacted regions.

A polar vortex is “a large area of low pressure and cold air” that can expand during the winter months, “sending cold air southward with the jet stream,” according to theNWS.

The only danger these pose to humans, the agency said, “is the magnitude of how cold temperatures will get” as Arctic air makes its way south, including “into areas that are not typically that cold.”

Cold blasts are expected throughout January, according toABC News.

Additionally, sleet and freezing rain could impact areas from southern Kansas and the Ozarks to the Tennessee Valley over the weekend.

source: people.com