This Week,” or “150 MILLION People in the Path of the Polar Vortex,” remember that while it’s true, it’s also not unusual. (And it probably could be less sensational.) ...

This Week,” or “150 MILLION People in the Path of the Polar Vortex,” remember that while it’s true, it’s also not unusual. (And it probably could be less sensational.) ...

What exactly is a polar vortex? It’s when winds from the North Pole – which typically has its circulation contained in the Arctic – slide farther south into the Northern Hemisphere.

The science behind the polar vortex is incredibly complicated, and we've only recently begun to understand how changes at our planet's poles impact weather at more moderate latitudes.

The polar vortex is aways around - it just normally stays near the North Pole. But when it descends into our area, get ready for really cold weather.

The polar vortex is a regular feature of the arctic atmosphere. How much does it have to do with bitter cold spells elsewhere? 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. Watch Now.

There are all sorts of things going on above our heads. The polar vortex, winter's favorite whipping boy, has split into two pieces. On top of that, we're also enduring "sudden stratospheric warming." ...

The polar vortex might be recently popular, but it is not new. It’s always existed as a pocket of cold air that resides in the Arctic, but it can be brought south when the jet stream weakens.

The polar vortex is a regular feature of the arctic atmosphere. How much does it have to do with bitter cold spells elsewhere? 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. Watch Now.

The polar vortex is a regular feature of the arctic atmosphere. How much does it have to do with bitter cold spells elsewhere? 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. Watch Now.

But a strong polar vortex does not mean storms for us. In fact, it is the contrary. Most of the time, the stratospheric polar vortex has little impact on our weather.

The polar vortex is a regular feature of the arctic atmosphere. How much does it have to do with bitter cold spells elsewhere? 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. Watch Now.