A polar vortex is set to plunge the Midwest into a deep freeze, with Ohio bracing for some of the coldest temperatures of the season.
Why It Matters
So far, this winter has seen one of the warmest Decembers on record in much of the northern United States. However, the polar vortex could bring severe weather conditions which could affect travel safety and disrupt daily activities.
Vulnerable groups, such as young infants and senior citizens, are among those particularly at risk from the health hazards posed by freezing temperatures.
What To Know
A polar vortex is a stream of cold air that normally spins around the poles high in the stratosphere. The phenomenon, which blasts Arctic air across part of North America, can disrupt weather patterns.
Storm Blair, which the NWS said will produce “Arctic outbreaks,” is expected to move through Ohio on Sunday, bringing snow and sleet accumulations of between 5 and 9 inches on Sunday and into Monday night.
Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread and long-lasting power outages, according to the NWS.
Meanwhile, in Cuyahoga, Medina, Portage, and Summit Counties, as well as Ashtabula, Geauga, and Lake Counties, the NWS has warned that there will be periods of heavy lake effect snow with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour on Saturday.
Lake effect snow occurs when cold air passes over warmer lakes, picking up moisture that condenses into snow as it moves over land. This creates intense, localized snowstorms along the downwind shores, with some areas receiving heavy snowfall while nearby regions remain unaffected.
Ohio is also set to see some of the coldest temperatures of the season, with the state currently experiencing lows of 22 degrees today, according to the Weather Channel.
Such wintery conditions could affect travel in the state. The National Weather Service has warned that travel could be very difficult, with hazardous conditions likely to impact Monday’s morning and evening commutes. Motorists are urged to carry an emergency kit with a flashlight, food, and water if travel is unavoidable. The Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission also strongly advise adhering to all travel restrictions and delaying non-essential travel. Drivers should remain prepared for sudden changes in weather, visibility, and road conditions.
What People Are Saying
Meteorologist Ben Noll wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on December 29: “A lobe of the polar vortex threatens to bring some seriously cold and possibly snowy weather to the United States during the week of January 6. Frigid air will overtake just about the entire country.”
The National Weather Service said in its January 3 short-range discussion: “Areas in the Central Plains and Central Mississippi Valley, especially along and north of Interstate 70, are likely to experience heavy snowfall, with a high chance (60-90 percent) of at least 6 inches of snow from late Saturday into Sunday. Significant sleet and freezing rain are anticipated from eastern Kansas and the Ozarks extending eastward to the Tennessee and lower Ohio Valleys, also on Saturday into Sunday.”
What Happens Next
Currently, forecast models expect cold air to be pushed throughout much of the U.S. from early to mid-January.
The post Ohio Polar Vortex Forecast: Midwest To Be Consumed by Cold Snap appeared first on Newsweek.
