polar vortex

[ poh-ler vawr-teks ]

noun

, plural po·lar vor·ti·ces [poh, -ler , vawr, -t, uh, -seez] po·lar vor·tex·es

1. a whirling mass of very cold air that sits over the North or South Pole:

   A displaced polar vortex is causing Arctic temperatures across the United States.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polar vortex¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

This sets off a chain reaction of events culminating in the creation of a “polar vortex” with more extreme cold, storminess and snow.

From Salon

In a study published recently in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, LMU meteorologists highlight an additional aspect of stratospheric influence on long-range weather forecasts: Weak polar vortex states, such as the one currently prevailing, are typically followed by reduced uncertainty of 3-5 week forecasts over Northern Europe.

From Science Daily

After weak polar vortex events there is less spread among these forecasts over Northern Europe, making the weather more predictable.

From Science Daily

Severe winter weather outbreaks result when a weak jet stream allows the polar vortex, a swirling low-pressure center at the North and South poles, to send cold Arctic air south.

From National Geographic

The way the cold is invading is through a weather phrase that is becoming increasingly familiar to Americans: The polar vortex.

From Seattle Times