A powerful Arctic blast is set to hit the Northeast of the US this week, bringing the coldest air of the season so far, with wind chills reaching -25ºF (-31.7ºC) in some areas.
Strong northwest winds will drive polar air into major cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. The National Weather Service (NWS) is monitoring the situation closely and may issue Extreme Cold Warnings, which are rare in the Northeast.
NWS warns that frostbite can develop on exposed skin in just minutes and that prolonged exposure could be life-threatening. The cold is expected to peak early Sunday, February 8, with dangerous wind chills lingering until the next day before easing later in the week.
The polar vortex, which is a band of strong winds that encloses a pool of freezing cold air in the Arctic, can cause extreme wintry weather in the US when it weakens or becomes unstable.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.