A blast of frigid air from the Arctic has descended into the United States, causing temperatures to plummet across the country. This phenomenon, known as the polar vortex, is becoming more frequent due to changes in the climate.
The jet stream, a high-altitude air current that typically moves weather systems, has dipped sharply from the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast, bringing cold air from Canada and the Arctic southward. This has resulted in temperatures well below historical averages in many parts of the eastern U.S., with some areas experiencing overnight lows in the single digits or even below zero.
