What is the Polar Vortex?
By Joe Bachman
Editor
STEVENS POINT — A wave of extreme cold has hit much of the Midwest this week, including Portage County.
With potential record-breaking wind chills predicted as low as -65 in some areas, the week has seen many businesses, schools, and government buildings close to wait out the frigid weather. However, while Wisconsinites are no stranger to cold weather, the polar vortex may be a new foe to many.
The polar vortex isn’t just a phenomenon that can create such extreme conditions where frostbite can occur on exposed skin in less than five minutes, but mother nature at her most fragmented. The vortex is a large pressure system and cold jet stream which surrounds the north and south poles in a counter-clockwise direction. During winter months, the north vortex becomes less stable, and will expand, releasing cold air south into the United States.
However, while popularized in 2014, the polar vortex has been around for decades, possibly as far back as 1853. So why has this suddenly become a meteorologist buzzword over the past few years?
According to scientists, what is known as the “Warm Arctic, Cold Continents” idea could be the cause of colder winters, including such extreme conditions as we have seen. They posit that since the arctic warms faster in the middle latitudes, it dislocates masses of cold air, making it easier to fragment and shift to other regions.
In other words, as the planet continues to warm, (2018 was the fourth-hottest year on record) it continues to break down the polar vortex, leading to extreme cold spots of temperature. So while the polar vortex isn’t going away, it may become more fragmented, leading to even lower and extreme temperatures in winter months.
This vortex will likely split into as many as three “sister” vortices, which will spread across Europe, Asia, and North America. Whether or not you believe in man-made climate change or not, the bottom line is that scientists believe that polar vortices are likely going to continue to create extreme weather conditions as the area as seen this past week for years to come.
However, there is some relief for those with cabin fever due to the brutal temperatures, as warmer weather is on its way.
Forecasts predict that temperatures will start to rise as soon as Friday, and climb as high as 35 degrees on Saturday. Regardless, the National Weather Service will always recommend safety, no matter how cold, slippery, or snowy conditions are, and to keep a flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle during winter months.