{"id":12898,"date":"2026-02-02T03:27:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T03:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.canalmeteo.tv\/wp\/?p=12898"},"modified":"2026-02-02T03:27:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T03:27:21","slug":"february-the-polar-vortex-loses-strength","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.canalmeteo.tv\/wp\/en\/news\/february-the-polar-vortex-loses-strength\/","title":{"rendered":"February: Polar vortex loses strength"},"content":{"rendered":"

The extreme cold that has affected much of the eastern part of the country will continue through February. Areas from the Plains to the northwest with the Polar vortex now losing strength. Below average temperatures will be experienced during the month as a frigid pattern remains over the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sub-zero temperatures that have left bitter cold over the eastern half of the country will not go away as a major disruption of the Polar Vortex approaches this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polar Vortex: What Has Changed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the cold is not new, the Polar Vortex pattern was different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cold that arrived in late January was caused by the vortex that remained strong but shifted over Canada, sending extreme cold into the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Polar
Polar Vortex<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This disruption of the Polar Vortex will take the form of a Sudden Stratospheric Warming Event (SSWE), which occurs when temperatures high in the atmosphere rise rapidly, weakening or even breaking the winds that normally confine cold air near the North Pole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this happens, the polar vortex may split or shift, allowing frigid arctic air to spill southward into the eastern United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forecast for February<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This blast of frigid air will reach the east more frequently than last time as the polar vortex weakens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Climate Prediction Center shows high confidence in below average temperatures for the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this forecast holds, the combination of a cold January and this pattern could produce one of the coldest winters in years for much of the region, all tied to the weakened Polar Vortex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Below-average temperatures are very likely in:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n