The merging of the polar vortex and the jet stream, a rare event known as the “severe polar vortex outbreak,” has brought an intense, prolonged cold spell across parts of the United States and Europe, causing significant disruption and raising health concerns due to extremely low temperatures. The unusually severe weather phenomenon has affected vast regions, leading to hazardous road conditions and infrastructure challenges, limited access to essential services, and a heightened risk of hypothermia for vulnerable populations who are unable to adequately protect themselves from the brutal cold.
The polar vortex, which is a circular mass of cold air that typically remains in the Arctic, has rapidly intensified and dramatically shifted southward, sweeping arctic air into the US and Europe, kidnapping Christmas in many places with winter weather advisories, and winter storm warnings stretching across the eastern two-thirds of the US and much of western Europe.
In the United States, the polar vortex has caused unusually low temperatures, dropping to well below freezing from the northern plains through the Great Lakes, resulting in record-low temperatures in many areas. Rural areas without proper living conditions were particularly affected by this extreme cold, putting homeless individuals and communities at risk for hypothermia and frostbite.
Moreover, arctic winds have whipped across the United States, leading to hazardous travel conditions in several states. According to the National Weather Service, countless flights have been canceled, and AMBER travel alerts have been issued in areas hit by winter storms, urging residents to stay off the roads and avoid travel in affected regions.
Europe is also grappling with the severe weather, where the polar vortex has caused temperatures to plummet to unprecedented lows in several countries, amplifying an exceptionally cold winter. England, Scotland, and Norway are experiencing their coldest December days in decades, while the Netherlands is experiencing an unusual cold spell that brought snow, hail, and freezing rain, complicating public transportation operations and power grid capacities.
As cities and communities grapple with the challenges of this deep freeze, the polar vortex’s impact could exacerbate pre-existing conditions for the elderly and other vulnerable populations in regions previously unaccustomed to such arctic air. The World Health Organization has issued a warning about the potential dangers of cold spells, pointing out that extremely low temperatures can be detrimental to both physical and mental health.
