A polar vortex hits the United States. What does this mean? : NPR

A pedestrian bundles up as he walks down the street in cold weather in Chicago on January 8. Nam Y. Huh/AP .

. Nam Y. Huh/AP

Freezing temperatures will envelop millions of Americans this weekend, heralding days of freezing temperatures and life-threatening conditions for the next week.

People living “virtually anywhere from the Rockies eastward will experience below-normal temperatures over the next few days,” said Zack Taylor, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. “In particular, the Rockies, Northern Plains and Upper Midwest are expected to see these wind chill values ​​as low as minus 30, or perhaps as low as minus 40 or minus 50 by this weekend and into early next week.” Such low temperatures pose a high risk of hypothermia and frostbite to any exposed skin, Taylor warned.

These conditions are all due to a familiar sound phenomenon: the polar vortex, a vast area of ​​low pressure and cold air that surrounds the Earth's poles. The “vortex” is the counterclockwise flow of air that helps keep air cooler near the North and South Poles. But often during winter, the polar vortex expands, pulling its cold air south and causing notoriously cold temperatures.

“This will be one of the most significant cold air outbreaks of the season so far,” Taylor said.

Areas unaccustomed to freezing, or below freezing, such as the South and Mid-Atlantic, will not be spared and could reach daily record cold temperatures, Taylor said.

Monday's forecast for areas including Dallas, Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina, indicates high temperatures will fall below freezing. Morning low temperatures could drop below freezing as far as Houston, New Orleans and Tallahassee, Fla., Monday and Tuesday morning, between 20 and 30 degrees below normal for this time of year, it said Taylor.

But elsewhere in the country, where it will likely still be very, very cold, the weather is not expected to break any major records, Taylor said. “The forecast temperatures and wind chill values ​​are certainly worth noting and, again, could be dangerous, even deadly, in some areas, whether or not they break a record.”

Cold temperatures and a lawn sprinkler create an icicle on a tree in Richardson, Texas on January 8. LM Otero/AP .

. LM Otero/AP Does climate change have anything to do with frequent cold?

In general, no place is safe from climate change, and research shows that climate change is a significant driver of extreme weather events.

As for the cause of the extreme cold, the jury is still out. Some researchers believe there is a link between climate change and its impact on Arctic and polar vortex activity, but for others it is still an active area of ​​investigation.

What is clear is that many parts of the central and eastern United States are experiencing a colder than usual January, Taylor said. These areas “have been kind of stuck in this trend where we've had periods of colder weather basically since the beginning of the month. And that trend looks to continue through the end of the month,” Taylor said.

Members of the U.S. Military Honor Guard march as they rehearse before the upcoming presidential inauguration, on the North Lawn in front of the White House in Washington, January 12. Ben Curtis/AP .

. Ben Curtis/AP Tips for surviving and thriving in the cold

If possible, it's best to stay indoors during this cold snap. But life goes on regardless of the outside temperatures.

This weekend, four NFL playoff games continue as scheduled in Kansas City, Detroit, Philadelphia and Buffalo, NY.

Detroit, which is expected to face lows of 6 to 10 degrees and wind chills as low as 4 below zero, has at least one domed football stadium for spectators traveling in person to see the Lions play against the Washington Commanders.

The same cannot be said elsewhere. When the Houston Texans face the Chiefs in Kansas City on Saturday, they could play in single-digit temperatures.

The Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams could play in the snow on Sunday in Philadelphia, according to early forecasts. And in freezing cold Buffalo, the Baltimore Ravens and Bills will battle for a spot in the conference championship in temperatures hovering around 10 degrees.

The coldest air of the season blows into Washington, D.C., on Monday for President Donald Trump's second swearing-in. It will likely be the coldest Inauguration Day since President Ronald Reagan's Inauguration Day in 1985, when midday temperatures reached just 7 degrees and wind chill temperatures were 10 to 20 degrees below. zero, according to historical data. The current forecast in Washington for Monday calls for a high of 22 with wind gusts of 30 mph, making the temperature much colder, Taylor said.

For anyone ready to experience these dangerously cold temperatures, Taylor recommends limiting the amount of skin exposed to the air and reducing time spent outdoors as much as possible.

Taylor suggests keeping a cold weather survival kit on hand and in the car, containing items like a phone charger, jumper cables, snacks and water.

Of course, dress warmly and in layers like onions, NPR's Life Kit recommends. This should include a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating piece (like a flannel shirt), and finally a windproof top layer.

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