:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/LR7ARNGXNNCBOQEF3F7LWWUZVI.jpg "An Arctic polar vortex will cause extreme cold in the United States this weekend")
The polar vortex, a patch of cold air around the north pole, is set to unleash arctic cold across much of the United States this weekend, affecting outdoor activities and causing concerns about power grids and fuel prices.
Kansas City, Missouri, is expecting to drop to -21C on Saturday when the Chiefs face the Miami Dolphins in an NFL playoff game, while Iowa City is predicted to drop to -9C just before the state caucuses. This extreme cold marks a sharp change from the spring temperatures that enveloped parts of the country in December.
Rob Carolan, owner of Hometown Forecast Services, stated, “Winter took about six weeks to get going, but it’s going full steam ahead for the next couple of weeks. This will be the coldest stretch of winter yet from the Plains to the Midwest.”
The descent of Arctic air towards the south is attributed to disturbances in the stratosphere and blocks of atmospheric pressure that are nearly stationary across Greenland and eastern Canada. This could mean intense cold reaching south Texas, with the state’s power grid operator monitoring conditions due to the risk of rising demand and dwindling power reserves.
In New York and the Northeast, another strong rainstorm is expected to hit Manhattan on Friday, with temperatures rising to around 15°C on Saturday as warm winds push north. However, on Sunday, the lows are expected to fall below freezing.
Despite the impact on fuel prices, the heating oil market has remained subdued due to abundant reserves. Retail prices on the East Coast fell below $4 a gallon in January for the first time in nearly two years.
As temperatures across the US plummet, the public is advised to take precautions to stay safe and warm during this intense cold spell.