Polar Vortex
Hi friends, I hope you're fine?
Here in Belgium, it is the Eleonore storm that crosses us since this night, there are trees lying on the road, garbage bags that fly away, roofs torn off mini tornadoes and heavy rains ...
On the other hand, in the United States, they have been facing extreme temperatures for some time, up to minus 53 degrees in Montana due to a cold air front that lowers temperatures. This cold air is called a polar vortex, it's actually a whirlwind of cold air that comes from the North Pole.
A vortex, what is it?
A polar vortex is actually a very large cyclone that is constantly located near one of the two poles. It is a permanent phenomenon at the North Pole and the South Pole which decreases the summer and gets stronger in the winter.
It's like a whirlwind that turns counter-clockwise and turning, it traps cold air over the Arctic for example for the North Pole and Antarctica for the pole South.
Logically, it stays in its place thanks to the jet stream which is a kind of wind corridor that passes over the Earth that separates cold air from hot air.
What is happening in North America is that this arctic air band has moved south to Canada and the United States.
This phenomenon is explained by the fact that if the vortex rotates less quickly than usual, it loses its power and the cold air of the Arctic or Antarctic which is stuck in it escapes a little and goes down or rises according to the poles.
There has already been this type of phenomenon in 1985 when temperatures had dropped to minus 52 degrees.
Precautions
It is advisable to the population to avoid going out to the maximum because the cold is so strong that it can kill people. Especially the more sensitive people like old people, children and pregnant women.
In fact, serious skin lesions can occur after only a few minutes of exposure.
In fact, if you go out, you have to equip yourself like those explorers who go to the North Pole and especially to cover your hands and face.
You should also avoid driving out because there is a lot of snow and freezing rain which is very dangerous.
I saw a report where people were looking for their car in the street but impossible to find because they were all buried under the snow and we did not even see a rearview mirror or a piece of roof.
Belgium is less likely to be affected by this kind of phenomenon because in fact between the Arctic Ocean and Canada and the United States there is very little relief so the wind can circulate more easily and quickly, while In Belgium, for example, thanks to the relatively warm North Sea, even in winter, it has at least 5 degrees, which warms the cold air that runs through it.
That's it, I hope you learned something anyway me yes, I did not know what it was a polar vortex. In any case, apart from the fact that it is dangerous for human life, it brings us beautiful winter images ...
