Arctic blast brings low temperatures, wind chills to Northeast Ohio
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Say hello to the polar vortex. Photo: NOAA via Getty Images
Odds are you spent the recent holidays curled up in the warmest part of your home, away from some of the coldest weather Northeast Ohio has seen in years.
- Expect much of the same Tuesday and Wednesday.
Why it matters: This week's powerful arctic outbreak has pushed temperatures down to as cold as 25 to 35 degrees below the mid-January average — posing risks to public health, stressing electricity grids, and potentially disrupting school operations.
State of play: Temperatures dropped near zero in Cleveland Monday night and are expected to remain well below 10 degrees Tuesday before dropping below zero at night.
- It won't get much better Wednesday when temps might hit double-digits, while lows stay near single digits.
The big picture: It's the same story for much of the nation. The National Weather Service warns of "dangerously cold wind chills" in the Plains and Upper Midwest, with the risk of hypothermia and frostbite.
- The hazardous cold will be especially disruptive in the South and Southeast, where a snow and ice storm could arrive midweek.
- The cold air spilling southward out of northern Canada is expected for at least a week.
Flashback: The outbreak is partly tied to the polar vortex, a term that recalls the infamous winter of 2013-2014.
- That's when a breakdown in the polar vortex — defined by the NWS as "a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth's poles" — led to a historical cold air outbreak.
- Temperatures reached record lows and wind chills in Northeast Ohio, causing numerous school closures and more than 140 canceled flights at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
What they're saying: Cuyahoga County officials recommend remaining indoors, dressing in layers if you must go outside, staying active to generate body heat and bringing pets inside.
- Cleveland Clinic also has a list of treatments for people experiencing hypothermia.
Go deeper: Temperatures to plummet from polar vortex-related arctic blast