Record cold temperatures were set from Ohio to Virginia, and all the way up to New England. You may remember when the term polar vortex became popular last winter.

However, a disruption in the vortex – known as "sudden stratospheric warming" – back in mid-March will finally be making its way down to the surface in the eastern U.S. next week, Cohen said.

What we call the polar vortex -- a spin in the atmosphere -- can't actually be felt in the U.S. or anywhere on Earth. It doesnâ t ice over too often ...

A detailed analysis of polar vortex collapse mechanisms and how they relate to occasional North American cold outbreaks.

A polar vortex collapse occurs when the layer between 10 and 50km above Earth’s surface warms up to 50 degrees in just two days - known as sudden stratospheric warming (SSW).

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A satellite image showing a large area of low pressure, from the polar vortex, moving into ...

Think of the polar vortex as a huge cylinder of low pressure and cold air that hovers over the North Pole and high into the atmosphere during the winter. When the polar vortex is strong, the cold ...

When high pressure builds into the Arctic Circle, the polar vortex is pushed south and away from the pole, giving it an opportunity to sink into the United States.

However, a disruption in the vortex – known as "sudden stratospheric warming" – back in mid-March will finally be making its way down to the surface in the eastern U.S. next week, Cohen said.

The Arctic polar vortex is a circle of strong, cold winds that picks up every winter over the North Pole. The vortex is always present, but it strengthens in the winter due to a redistribution of ...

However, a disruption in the vortex – known as "sudden stratospheric warming" – back in mid-March will finally be making its way down to the surface in the eastern U.S. next week, Cohen said.