Polar vortex to plunges US into bone-chilling Arctic grip

Get ready for a deep freeze, America. 

The polar vortex is gearing up to unleash an Arctic blast, sending bone-chilling cold across much of the United States this weekend. Football fans in the Midwest might be shivering more than cheering, and Iowa voters face subzero temperatures just before their caucus kicks off.

The polar vortex is a massive area of extremely cold air around the North Pole. It's called the polar vortex because the air in this region circulates in a counter-clockwise direction. Right now, this icy air is getting bigger and moving southward, bringing a super cold blast with it.

Brace yourself, Kansas City—temperatures are expected to plummet to minus 21 degrees Celsius on January 13, just as the hometown Chiefs clash with the Miami Dolphins in an NFL wild-card playoff game. Meanwhile, Iowa City is predicted to hit a bone-chilling minus 12.7 degrees Celsius.

Forget the spring-like December we just had; winter is here, and it means business. The sudden shift to extreme cold is causing a surge in demand for heating fuel, shooting natural gas prices to their highest since July 2022. Power grids are on the hot seat, with concerns about their ability to handle the increased load.

According to Rob Carolan of Hometown Forecast Services, winter took its time arriving, but now it's going full throttle. A few atmospheric pieces, including stratospheric warming above the North Pole, disrupted the polar vortex, allowing Arctic air to swoop down over Canada and into the US.

But it's not just the polar vortex. Blocks in the atmospheric pressure field across Greenland and eastern Canada are pushing the polar jet stream south, intensifying the chill. Snow covering the Great Plains and Midwest adds fuel to the icy air, potentially reaching as far south as Texas. The state's grid operator is on high alert for increased demand and lower power reserves.

While Dallas and Houston brace for subzero temperatures, the East Coast will experience a weather rollercoaster. 

New York, despite escaping the extreme cold, is set for a wild swing in temperatures over the weekend. And as gas prices soar with the Arctic chill, heating oil remains subdued, offering a bit of relief for consumers.