A disrupted Polar Vortex core will bring Arctic air into North America in the coming days. But the latest forecasts show a potential full collapse of the Polar Vortex, following a Stratospheric Warming event in early February. High-resolution model data shows a breakdown of the polar circulation, forecast to create a prolonged release of cold air across North America and also Europe in February.
233 million Americans are under alerts for snow, sleet, or freezing rain. A large, long-duration winter storm is expected to bring widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies and Plains beginning Friday (Jan. 23), spreading eastward toward New England this weekend. Snow and cold, please go away and don't return another day.