Shifting Polar Vortex Ushering in Frequent Bursts of Arctic Air

The shifting of the polar vortex this week is paving the way for several rounds of Arctic air to push into the central and eastern U.S., raising the risk of more wintry precipitation in the process. Read on for a look at how this shifting in the air mass located thousands of miles away is impacting the weather in the U.S.

Polar Vortex Displacement Triggering Frequent Waves of Frigid Temperatures

The polar vortex is tracking to the south this week, eventually expected to anchor itself near Hudson Bay, Canada. The result will be wave after wave of Arctic air spilling over the border and into the northern tier of the country through the middle of December. With colder air comes an increased chance for snow and ice.

It has already been a chilly stretch of days for much of the country. For instance, a brief cold snap at the end of November left the city of Minneapolis colder than Mars for a short time. According to data from NASA's Curiosity rover, the daytime high on Mars reached about 30 degrees on Thanksgiving Day. Meanwhile, the Twin Cities topped out with a high of just 27 degrees on the holiday. This was about 10 degrees below the historical average for the end of November.

It should be noted that Minneapolis lost the bragging rights once the sun went down. Although the overnight lows slipped into the teens and low 20s throughout Minneapolis, the mercury in Mars plummeted to near 100 degrees below zero. It is not unusual for the planet to experience these wild temperature swings.  

The mass of Arctic air will continue to deliver sub-zero readings in a zone from the Dakotas to the south into Nebraska. To the east, the frigid winds will reach as far as Minnesota and Iowa. The displacement of the polar vortex will set the stage for at least two more blasts of cold air in the days to come.