Polar Vortex freezes much of US; over 9,000 flights disrupted, BA

A polar vortex swept across the United States, affecting regions east of the Rockies with extreme winter weather at the beginning of the week.

Heavy snow blanketed cities like Washington, D.C., and Louisville, Kentucky, while rare freezes hit southern states, including parts of Florida. Ice and wind created treacherous conditions, downing trees and making roads impassable.

According to reports by BBC, at least five people died in separate incidents across the United States due to the blast of the winter storm. Virginia State Police responded to over 430 crashes, leaving more than 20 people injured, writes the Associate Press. In Missouri, over 600 motorists were stranded during the weekend, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Several states recorded historic snowfall. Topeka, Kansas, saw 14.5 inches (37 cm) of snow, while Kansas City reported 11 inches (28 cm), breaking a record set in 1962. Louisville, Kentucky, recorded 7.7 inches (20 cm), surpassing a 1910 record. Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky Airport faced a similar disruption with 8 inches (20 cm) of snow.

Temperatures plunged across the country, with forecasters warning of lows 12 to 25°F (7 to 14°C) below normal. Coastal areas in the Northeast recorded temperatures as low as -15 to -17°C, while the Central Plains endured similarly bone-chilling conditions.

The cold weather caused major travel disruptions, with over 9,000 flights cancelled or delayed from Texas to New York, according to Flightaware. Greater Washington, DC, airports were the worst affected, with 80% of departures from National Airport cancelled. The airport closed runways for snow removal, and while terminals remained open, runways were expected to stay closed until Tuesday morning.

Highways, including major routes like I-64 and US Route 41, were also shut down due to snow and ice.

The polar vortex also left over 300,000 without power in Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, and West Virginia, and forced schools to close in multiple states, with Maryland declaring a state of emergency and shutting schools and offices.

A polar vortex is a large area of cold, rotating air that surrounds both of Earth’s polar regions. Usually confined to the Arctic, it occasionally shifts southward, bringing freezing conditions to the US. Studies show that the fast-warming Arctic is partly to blame for the increasing frequency of the polar vortex extending its grip.