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By Joe Edwards
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A frigid start to the year has been forecast for New Yorkers, with the polar vortex set to push icy air throughout much of the U.S. in January.
What Is The Polar Vortex?
The Arctic polar vortex is a strong band of west-to-east winds forming in the stratosphere during winter, approximately 10 to 30 miles above the North Pole.
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It is always present near the poles, though it weakens during summer and intensifies in winter.
In the Northern Hemisphere's winter, the polar vortex often expands, driving cold air southward alongside the jet stream, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
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Why It Matters
Meteorologists note that polar vortex intrusions are generally not disruptive. However, they can occasionally bring cold air outbreaks and winter storms, leading to travel disruptions. Heavy snowfall may also result in school closures.
Freezing temperatures pose heightened health risks for vulnerable populations, including young infants and elderly individuals.
What To Know
Previous forecasts have predicted that frigid air will be pushed throughout the U.S., including the east, at least for the first half of January. Some forecasters say it has the potential to persist into the month.
AccuWeather research shared with Newsweek indicated that the intensity and reach of the Arctic air will increase during the first full week of January and persist through mid-month. At its peak, this frigid air is expected to impact over 250 million people across more than 40 states in the central and eastern U.S.
AccuWeather meteorologists predict that, while the cold air may not reach the most extreme levels experienced in the past 10 to 15 years, the prolonged duration of the frigid conditions could make this January the coldest in the United States since 2011.
They have forecast several zones of six to 12 inches of snow in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York through Sunday.
Pockets of 12-24 inches of snow are possible downwind of the Great Lakes in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, AccuWeather said.
According to AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva, polar vortex blasts are anticipated to occur on January 3–4, January 7–8, and January 11–12, per Lohud.
Lohud also reported that temperatures in the lower Hudson Valley could fall to 24 degrees starting Friday, and that Friday night temperatures in New York City could be as low as 28 degrees.
What People Are Saying
Meteorologist Ben Noll wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on December 29: "A lobe of the polar vortex threatens to bring some seriously cold and possibly snowy weather to the United States during the week of January 6th.
"Frigid air will overtake just about the entire country."
In a media advisory shared with Newsweek, AccuWeather said: "The frigid temperatures will likely trigger a surge in heating demand across the eastern half of the United States. The bitterly cold air could also impact natural gas drilling and operations in the Marcellus Shale region of the Northeast."
What Happens Next
The arctic polar vortex has been forecast to push frigid winds across much of the U.S. in the coming weeks.
The NWS advises the public to monitor their local forecast at weather.gov to ensure they are dressed appropriately for the weather.
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