Polar Vortex About to Blast Michigan With Unusually Cold Air

As Michigan residents settle into the new year, a Polar Vortex is about to send temperatures plummeting well below average.

What is a Polar Vortex?

Oddly enough, the Polar Vortex always exists but its presence is weakened during the summer months. According to Weather.gov, The Polar Vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air that surrounds both of the Earth's poles. 'Vortex' refers to air that flows in a counterclockwise direction, keeping the cold air near the Earth's poles.

As the Polar Vortex expands and strengthens during the winter months, it sends bitter cold air southward, resulting in cold weather conditions for roughly the northern half of the United States.

Although the Polar Vortex has always existed, the term was rarely used before 2014.

Frosty Cold Temperatures for Millions of Americans

After a couple of Januarys (2023, 2024) that have been unseasonably warm, this year's Polar Vortex is about to bring snow storms and frigid cold temperatures that will impact millions of Americans.

The second week of January 2025 will likely bring the coldest air of the season and dangerous wind chills to the Southeast and temperatures below freezing as far south as the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Yahoo also reports that some areas could see temperatures plummet to nearly 30 degrees below average.

Polar Vortex Brings Cold Air to Michigan

Dr. Rayan Maue is a research meteorologist with the Cato Institute. He tells WOOD-TV  that mid-January presents a prime opportunity for arctic cold air throughout the Great Lakes.

"We’ve been watching the progress of the Canadian Arctic “polar vortex” as it wobbles thru the middle troposphere into Great Lakes and Southeast into mid-January," Maue says. "This is a long-lasting and potentially severe cold event for the Eastern U.S."

According to the European and GFS weather models, parts of Michigan may see high temperatures that only reach the teens during the second week of January, with Jan 9 and 10 likely to be the coldest days of the month.