The time period “polar vortex” refers to a large-scale climate sample that happens within the Earth’s ambiance close to the North and South Poles. It’s characterised by a big space of low stress and chilly air that rotates counterclockwise across the pole. The polar vortex is strongest in the course of the winter months, because the temperature distinction between the poles and the equator is biggest presently.
In 2025, an unusually robust polar vortex introduced record-breaking chilly temperatures to the state of Texas. The vortex brought about widespread energy outages, water shortages, and transportation disruptions. The occasion highlighted the vulnerability of the state’s infrastructure to excessive climate occasions.