Thursday, January 31, 2019

I'm over winter

Here in the nation's capital, we're in the middle of a polar vortex, leaving temperatures at a frosty 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring, and the longer days and warmer temperatures that come with it, can't get here soon enough! In fact, I've already started the countdown to what I consider the unofficial start of spring: Daylight Saving Time.

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As of the time of this post, there's a little over a month left before the days start getting longer. 'Til then, here's some info on the polar vortex we're experiencing.

First off, what exactly is a polar vortex? The short answer is that a polar vortex is a wide expanse of swirling cold air, also known as a low pressure area, that is parked in polar regions. During winter, the polar vortex at the North Pole expands, sending cold air southward. This happens fairly regularly and is often associated with outbreaks of cold temperatures in the United States.

Polar Vortex

When part of this low-pressure area breaks off and migrates south, all of that cold air comes with it. The breaking off of part of the vortex is what defines a polar vortex event.

For more information on polar vortexes and low and high pressure weather systems, visit SciJinks.