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What happens during a polar vortex?
The polar vortex causes temperatures to drop 30 to 50 degrees below normal, impacting millions and disrupting infrastructure in the U.S. and Europe, scientists said.
- A polar vortex-driven outbreak sent Arctic cold from the Great Plains to the East Coast and Europe, affecting cities such as Chicago, with record lows and dangerous wind chills.
- High above the North Pole about 10 to 30 miles up, the polar vortex is a massive whirlpool of frigid air that scientists say weakens from sudden stratospheric warming and high-altitude winds.
- Infrastructure buckled as the Midwest deep freeze damaged railroad tracks, closed thousands of schools, and put 90 million people at risk while households faced frozen pipes and higher energy bills.
- With shelters filling, officials urged people to prepare as schools and businesses shut and emergency shelters reached capacity.
- These outbreaks recur roughly every one to three years, and after weakening, the polar vortex can send cold air southward for one to two weeks with temperature drops 30 to 50 degrees below normal under jet stream instability in North America and Europe.
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What happens during a polar vortex?
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Total News Sources18
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center16Last UpdatedBias Distribution94% Center
Bias Distribution
- 94% of the sources are Center
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C 94%
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