Polar Vortex Extending Arctic Deep Freeze For Millions In Eastern United States Through February

The extreme cold that has gripped much of the eastern United States this winter shows no immediate signs of relenting, as a significant disruption to the Polar Vortex is expected to occur later in February.

While a cold spell is not unprecedented, the behavior of the Polar Vortex has followed a different pattern so far.

The frigid air that arrived in late January resulted from a strong but displaced Polar Vortex across Canada, channeling intense cold directly into the contiguous United States. (RELATED: Beachfront Homes In Outer Banks At Risk Of Collapsing Due To Near-Hurricane Force Nor’easter Blasting Carolinas)

The upcoming disruption is forecast to manifest as a Sudden Stratospheric Warming Event (SSWE). This phenomenon involves a rapid rise in temperatures high in the atmosphere, which can weaken or even fracture the winds that typically keep Arctic air bottled up around the North Pole, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

When such an event occurs, the Polar Vortex may split or move dramatically, permitting large masses of Arctic air to shift southward through the eastern United States.

FRIGID FEBRUARY 🥶: The second month of the year is set to be another cold one, as the FOX Weather temperature outlook shows the Polar Vortex weakening and splitting, delivering even more cold air for February. Get the latest: pic.twitter.com/j2zC6jtxvu

— FOX Weather (@foxweather) February 1, 2026

The FOX Forecast Center indicates that this weakening of the Polar Vortex will allow cold air intrusions to sweep into the East more frequently than during the previous episode.

The February Temperature Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) aligns with the assessment, highlighting strong confidence in below-average temperatures for February.

If this pattern verifies, the mixture of an already cold January and the anticipated continued cold outbreaks could make this one of the coldest winters in years for large parts of the Eastern U.S. — all linked to the destabilization of the Polar Vortex. (RELATED: South Florida Could See Snow Due To Rare Gulf-Effect Event)

It’s very likely that below-average temperatures will be felt along the Great Lakes, the Northeast, and even portions of the Southeast.

In contrast, the western United States is expected to experience warmer-than-average conditions throughout February.