Threat of Polar Vortex to US and Europe : Daily Current Affairs

Threat of Polar Vortex to US and Europe

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According to the Meteorologist, the polar vortex is splitting into two and swirling southward from the North Pole converting the US and European countries into a chilling deep freeze.

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A notorious stream of bone chilling winds around a low-pressure area due to the major stratospheric temperature rise is expected to drift across these countries causing an utmost fall in temperatures. According to several weather forecast, Canada, Eurasia much of Western Europe and the US, will face spine chilling cold winter with heavy snow along the US East Coast.

The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles. It ALWAYS exists near the poles, but weakens in summer and strengthens in winter. The term "vortex" refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air near the Poles.

Many times during winter in the northern hemisphere, the polar vortex will expand, sending cold air southward with the jet stream. This occurs fairly regularly during wintertime and is often associated with large outbreaks of Arctic air in the United States.

With a ‘disrupted’ polar vortex in 2021, the colder air is expected to roll out of the Arctic and result in the arrival of immense harsh winters. This icy blast is expected to arrive in late January similar the one that happened in 2014 Polar vortex that dived the temperatures in Chicago to minus 16 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 27 Celsius).

During winters the cold air normally descends down from the Arctic but somehow it stayed surrounded on the north pole in the season of 2019-2020. This winter is expected to return now after a break of two years. This cold has resulted into rise in prices of gas in Spain and liquefied natural gas in Asia.

COVID has already affected the economy of the world and this vortex is going to add to the worry of shoppers, airlines, shipping, etc. However, it is not assured that this cold will arrive, it is also possible that the atmosphere may not deliver it.