polar vortex

[ poh-ler vawr-teks ]

noun

, plural po·lar vor·ti·ces [poh, -ler , vawr, -t, uh, -seez] po·lar vor·tex·es

1. a whirling mass of very cold air that sits over the North or South Pole:

   A displaced polar vortex is causing Arctic temperatures across the United States.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polar vortex¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

She would leave every day of shooting during the polar vortex just grinning from ear-to-ear.

From The Daily Beast

Undeterred by the crippling polar vortex that's left heaps of snow lying unceremoniously at every turn.

From The Daily Beast