Polar Vortex collapse to bring severe winter weather with snowfall to Canada, US; What is it? How does it happen? | Mint<img src='https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6035286&cv=4.4.0&cj=1'>SubscribeSign inView Market DashboardHomeLatest NewsMarketsMarket NewsMark to MarketCommoditiesLive BlogsCryptocurrencyIPOStock MarketsMarket DataStock PagesIndex pagesBullionGold SilverFuelPetrolDieselNewsIndiaWorldWSJEconomistNewsUS NewsPremium e-paperGlobal Partners WSJEconomistBarron'sMint SpecialsMint ExplainersMark to MarketLong StoryMint PrimerSnapviewSectionsCompaniesTechnologyMarketsMoneyMutual FundsInsuranceAutoIndustryPersonal FinanceCompaniesStart-upsCompany ResultsPeopleMoneyPersonal FinanceInsurance Ask Mint MoneyMutual FundsMyMintChampions Trophy 2025 LIVEPersonal LoanTechnologyGadgetsTech ReviewsApp News5G TechFoldable SmartphonesMint HindiMoreElection 2025OpinionAuto NewsSportsChampions Trophy 2025 ScheduleChampions Trophy 2025 Points TableMost Runs in Champions Trophy 2025 EducationTools IFSC Code FinderIncome Tax CalculatorMint LoungeMintGenie Multi-MediaVideosWebStories Photo GalleryPodcastsExplore MintAbout usPrint subscriptionMint AuthorsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseDisclaimerMint codeCookie PolicyCode of ethicsSubscriber terms of useSitemapContact UsHindustan TimesLive HindustanHealthshotsCredit Card Hello UserSign inSign OutMy AccountSubscribeMy WatchlistNewslettersNotificationsMy ReadsFor YouView Less -View More +Data InsightsMarket DashboardBullionGoldSilverFuelPetrolDieselCommoditiesGoldGoldMAluminumMenthaoilSilverSilverMICGoldPetalNatural GasCopperZincSilverMCrudeOilGoldGinueaLeadCryptoCurrenciesView Less -View More +Top SectionsToday's NewsIndia NewsWorld NewsUS News TodayBudget 2025EconomyMoney NewsPersonal FinanceQ&AOpinionCompany Business NewsIPO NewsStart-upsCompany ResultsTop Company LeaderStock Market NewsStock MarketsCommodity NewsMark To MarketIPO NewsLive Blogpersonal loanpersonal loan emi calculatorPersonal Loan Interest RatePersonal Loan EligibilityBusiness LoanInstant LoanElection Results 2025Assembly Elections 2025Indian Industry AnalysisBanking NewsInfotech NewsInfrastructureAgricultureManufacturingEnergy NewsRetail NewsAuto NewsSports NewsOpinionViewsColumnsTechnology NewsGadgetsTech ReviewsApp NewsPolitics NewsLoungeBusiness of LifeSports NewsIPL 2025 IPL 2025 Points Table IPL 2025 Orange CapIPL 2025 Purple CapIPL Match Today | IPL 2025 ScheduleEducation News TodayView Less -View More +Premium Offeringse-paperWSJEconomistBarron'sMyMintMint PremiumView Less -View More +Tools and CalculatorsIFSC Code FinderIncome Tax CalculatorSIP CalculatorEMI CalculatorHome Loan EMI CalculatorCar Loan EMINPS CalculatorView Less -View More +MultiMedia CollectionsVideosWebStoriesPhoto GalleryPodcastsView Less -View More +More From MintMint GenieMint LoungeMint HindiView Less -Explore MintAbout UsPrint SubscriptionMint AuthorsTerms of UseDisclaimerMint CodeCode of ethicsCookie PolicyPrivacy PolicySubscriber - Terms of UseSITEMAPContact UsMint AppsView Less -View More +Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limited All Rights Reserved.Polar Vortex collapse to bring severe winter weather with snowfall to Canada, US; What is it? How does it happen?A polar vortex collapse is expected to bring severe winter weather to Canada and the US mid-month. This event could also affect the UK and Europe, disrupting weather patterns as cold Arctic air spills southward, leading to travel issues and increased heating demands. LivemintPublished6 Mar 2025, 06:56 AM ISTClouds cover the Empire State Building and the skyline of Manhattan during the arrival of polar vortex while people walk in a local park in the town of Weehawken in New Jersey, U.S., January 18, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz(REUTERS)A polar vortex collapse is predicted to bring severe winter-like weather to parts of Canada and the US around the middle of this month. This same weather event affected several regions across North America last month, causing freezing temperatures and widespread travel disruptions.According to reports, the upcoming polar vortex collapse could also impact the UK and other areas in Europe.What is Polar Vortex Collapse?A polar vortex collapse occurs when the polar vortex, which is typically a stable, cold air mass circulating around the Arctic region, weakens or breaks apart, causing significant disruptions in weather patterns.Normally, the polar vortex is a well-contained system of cold air over the polar regions, but when it collapses, this cold air can escape and spread to lower latitudes. A polar vortex is an upper-level jet stream that typically circulates around both the North and South Poles but can push cold winds down into the US and Canada when it weakens and expands.Also Read: Polar Vortex collapse: US, Canada and UK brace for extreme freezing temperaturesAccuWeather’s Lead Meteorologist, Paul Pastelok, was quoted by The Independent saying, “When the Polar Vortex is disrupted—whether stretched, displaced, or split—it can, though not always, affect the polar jet stream. The timing for North America is uncertain, but we may see a change in the pattern from late March into early April.”How does Polar Vortex collapse happen?A polar vortex collapses when the usual stable, cold air mass circling around the Arctic becomes disturbed or weakened, causing it to break apart or shift. This disruption can lead to an influx of cold Arctic air into lower latitudes.The most common cause of a polar vortex collapse is Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW). This occurs when temperatures in the stratosphere (the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere) rise rapidly, often by several tens of degrees Celsius in just a few days.Also Read: Cold, bitter cold, as polar vortex freeze grips North AmericaWhile the collapse of the polar vortex is a natural event that has occurred for centuries, changes in climate patterns—such as global warming—may influence the frequency or severity of such collapses. Warmer temperatures in the Arctic (a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification) may make the polar vortex more vulnerable to disruption.Impact of Polar Vortex CollapseWhen the polar vortex collapses or shifts, the cold air that typically stays around the Arctic region can spill southward, causing extreme cold weather, snowstorms, and other disruptive weather events in areas like North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. These disruptions can last from a few days to several weeks, depending on how severe the collapse is.In summary, a polar vortex collapse typically results from rapid stratospheric warming that weakens the vortex and causes cold Arctic air to move southward, affecting weather patterns far from the polar regions.How does the Polar vortex weakens?The polar vortex naturally weakens and eventually disappears each spring in a process known as “final warming,” but it’s uncertain if the weakening expected in March will be the last one until the vortex reforms in late summer, Bloomberg reported citing Andrew Pedrini, a meteorologist with Atmospheric G2.Also Read: Extreme Cold Alert: What is a Polar vortex, and why is it dangerous? Will it affect India?Meteorologists at MetDesk suggest that this weather pattern will likely lead to increased heating demand in late March, while also reducing wind power generation, the report said.Wind speeds in Britain, Germany, and Spain are expected to briefly increase early in the month before dropping off.(With inputs from agencies)Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.Business NewsScienceNewsPolar Vortex collapse to bring severe winter weather with snowfall to Canada, US; What is it? 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