If you've ever shivered through an unexpectedly brutal winter or wondered why your local forecast suddenly changed, the polar vortex might be to blame. This lesson will show you how a high-altitude air current can dramatically reshape winter weather across continents.
The phrase 'polar vortex' trends when unusual cold snaps hit, often because scientists forecast a 'collapse' or 'sudden stratospheric warming' event.
These events disrupt the normal flow of Arctic air, allowing it to spill much further south than usual.