Polar Vortex Could Bring Extreme Cold & Tons of Snow to Maine
So, it has been quite a few years since we have had to deal with the Polar Vortex. It's been so long since we've discussed it that you forgot about it, didn't you? It's okay, the rest of us did, too.
The last time we all had to deal with the affects of the Polar Vortex was the winter of 2014-2015. Additionally, we got spanked by it in the winter of 2012-2013.
Well, it looks like we have another one on the way!
According to Channel 5 in Boston, it is expected the polar vortex will split causing a very active period of winter weather across New England.
What is the Polar Vortex? It's a cyclone of freezing cold air that always circulates the arctic circle. Even though we rarely hear about it, it is always there. Actually, the only time we do hear about it is when it weakens enough for that cold air to spill out of its "cage" and hit us in Canada and the northern United States.
According to Atmospheric and Environmental Research's Dr. Judah Cohen:
I expect a more active pattern going forward, I think there's a good chance that February could be the coldest month of the winter, relative to normal. I think there will be multiple chances for snow.
It looks like we could be mostly affected by the vortex from late-January through the majority of February.
While we do not really know how it will affect us this time around, we can look at past times the vortex has affected our lives. From February 7, through February 18th of 2013, we had to deal with the Blizzard of 2013. Then, we got hit with another big storm in March of 2013. And, in 2015, some parts of New England got as much as 90 inches of snow over the course of three weeks.
Well, you've been warned. Be safe!