Since the earliest days of 2014, millions
have been made aware of a “polar vortex” being the cause of extremely low
temperatures this season. Though the
first blast of freezing air that appeared in the first weeks of January came
and went fairly quickly, it managed to do a lot of damage in the southern and
eastern parts of the U.S.
Some laughed at the phrase “polar vortex,”
thinking it sounded like something straight out of a science fiction movie. However, after the first few days of
temperatures plunging below freezing, the vortex was looked upon with more
respect and alarm.
What is a polar vortex? The simplest explanation is that a large
pocket of freezing air from the arctic has moved down to settle over the United
States.The pocket of freezing air sits over the arctic every winter, and at
times factors in the weather, such as high pressure systems, push it further
south to visit more regions in the northern hemisphere. This year was unusual because the arctic air
doesn’t usually go far enough to reach the United States.
Some relate this incident to global
warming. The initial reaction of the
public has been that the polar vortex completely disproves the existence of
global warming, but some scientists say differently. They say that the unusually high pressures in
the arctic are actually caused by global warming. There is no concrete evidence to prove either
side of the argument.
This drastic change in the weather and its
effects on the nation were considered a national crisis. Even for those who do not keep up with the
latest news, it was clear that the vortex had taken hold. The coldest air in twenty years covered the
nation, as well as wind chills 30 degrees below freezing. Travelling conditions were slippery. Schools were closed for weeks at a time. Snow accompanied the freezing air in many
states, even those who have rarely seen snow in many years. Atlanta, Georgia, for example, was completely
unprepared for even the few inches of snow that covered the area.
Between January 6 and 7, records for cold
temperatures were broken in Alabama, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Ohio, and several other states.
West Virginia also saw temperatures dropping below record lows of the
past two decades. Take Morgantown for
example, where the record low of -4 degrees Fahrenheit has been replaced by -7
degrees.
At least 20 deaths across the nation were
blamed on exposure to the frigid temperatures, particularly in Illinois,
Indiana, and surrounding areas. Shelters
were opened to allow the public to wait out the cold, which saved many lives.
After days of anxious waiting, temperatures
finally rose to normal for January, and the public breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that the first blast of cold air has
left, do we have anything left to worry about?
Unfortunately, yes – the polar vortex is still there, and factors in the
weather may shift it to cover the U.S. again.
The danger will only pass when the high pressure in the arctic dissipates,
and at that point the freezing air will move back up into the arctic.
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