NPR

Polar Vortex Causes Midwest States Of Emergency As Cold Pushes Farther South

Wind chill warnings stretch from the Dakotas into Western Pennsylvania. Airlines have canceled thousands of flights, and the governors of Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois have declared emergencies.
Icicles form on the walkway at North Avenue Beach of Lake Michigan in Chicago on Tuesday.

The polar vortex sliding south into the Midwest is sending temperatures to their lowest levels in more than 30 years and, in some cases, setting records.

While it usually sits over the Arctic, the polar vortex is being pushed south by an unseasonably warm air mass to the north.

The life-threatening cold is paralyzing the region — closing schools, businesses and courthouses; grounding flights; and keeping millionstheir homes.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min readWorld
Israel Strikes Iran, U.S. Official Says; Taylor Swift's 'Tortured Poets' Is Here
Israel has launched a strike against Iran, a U.S. official tells NPR. Taylor Swift's highly anticipated "Tortured Poets Department" is here.
NPR7 min readCrime & Violence
Alvin Bragg, Manhattan's District Attorney, Draws Friends Close And Critics Closer
Observers, friends and former colleagues view Alvin Bragg Jr., the Manhattan district attorney, as a smart, deliberate lawyer and a selfless public servant. And people who claim him as their friend say he's a thoughtful one. Those who spoke to NPR, w
NPR5 min readInternational Relations
What We Know So Far About Israel's Strike On Iran — And What Could Happen Next
Israel and Iran seem to be downplaying the attack, the latest in a series of retaliatory strikes between the two. Analysts say that could be a sign of the de-escalation world leaders are calling for.

Related Books & Audiobooks