Polar Vortex Brings Arctic Chill To Much Of US
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Alignment
A severe winter storm blanketed the Central and Eastern US with snow and ice. The intense system triggered a state of emergency across several states, from Kansas and Missouri to New Jersey. The Midwest was hit the hardest.
On January 5, 2025, Kansas City International Airport recorded 11 inches (27.9 cm) of snow. This is the fourth-largest single-day snowfall in the state’s history since records began in 1888. Meanwhile, Cincinnati, Ohio, saw a record-breaking snowfall of 8.4 inches (21.3 cm) surpassing the previous record of 6.9 inches (17.5 cm) set in 1977.
The heart of the country bore the brunt of the storm. However, the frigid weather is being felt along the entire eastern coast, reaching as far south as Florida. Over the next few days, wind chills in northern Florida are expected to drive temperatures as low as 20°F (-6.6°C).
The extreme cold is linked to the polar vortex — a massive, rotating pocket of frigid air around the North and South Poles. It spins counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. The vortex is typically strongest in winter and usually remains near the poles. However, when it weakens or becomes unbalanced, pockets of frigid air escape, bringing extreme cold weather to surrounding areas.
Fortunately, the severe weather will not last too long. Experts predict the temperatures to rise by mid-January. If you are among the millions affected, bundle up and stay indoors as much as possible. With severe wind chills, frostbite can occur within minutes on exposed skin!
Resources: AlJazeera.com, quadcities.com, CNN.com, CBSnews.com
Get the Workbook for this article!
Workbook contains: Article, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking Questions, Vocabulary in Context (+ answers), Multiple Choice Quiz (+ answers), Parts of Speech Quiz (+ answers), Vocabulary Game (+ answers)Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
47 Comments
- janessa123459 monthsHow are we supposed to know what happens to sharks under water?
lowtap3rfad39 monthsI would hate the cold also what happens in the ocean to the orca sharks?
jerry123459 monthsin liberty there was no snow- lakensellers2019 monthsthere may be in liberty on tuesday
urlocalcapybara9 monthsThe closest it gets to snow were I live is layer of ice🤣
cranecha9 monthsthere is snow on the side of the rode still where I live.- cranecha9 monthsit is very cold where I live.
- rywajedu-1726504826399 monthsno snow where I live
- abdulwarith9 monthsI live in OH and there is 5 inches of snow in one night. Also the cars are frozen.
emmaanna9 monthsi live in taiwan and its still so hot!
osbornelena7 monthsYeah because it's only in the United States.
kirakoala9 monthsi live in nj and we got like 3 inches of snow but its all melting, but its still really icy