polar vortex

American  

[poh-ler vawr-teks] / ˈpoʊ lər ˈvɔr tɛks /

noun

plural

polar vortices, polar vortexes

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.

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Etymology

Origin of polar vortex

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

The brutal storm system is the result of a stretched polar vortex, an Arctic region of cold, low-pressure air that normally forms a relatively compact, circular system but sometimes morphs into a more oval shape, sending cold air spilling across North America.

From Barron's

An unusually brutal winter storm is set to pummel more than 160 million Americans from Friday, as a stretched "polar vortex" sends a devastating blast of Arctic air, bringing heavy snows and freezing rains.

From Barron's

Scientists say the increasing frequency of such disruptions of the polar vortex may be linked to climate change, though the debate is not yet settled and natural variability also plays a role.

From Barron's

At times, big atmospheric waves that form closer to the ground can travel upward and knock the polar vortex out of whack.

From Barron's

Cohen argues that this uneven warming helps amplify large atmospheric waves over Eurasia, which in turn makes the polar vortex spill more frequently over North America.

From Barron's