Polar vortex: A headache for schools
By Emily Cauffman
Published Feb. 21, 2019
The polar vortex brought a historic cold to much of Minnesota from January 29-31 causing many businesses and schools to close for the time being.
According to Accuweather.com, “A polar vortex is a large pocket of very cold air, typically the coldest air in the Northern Hemisphere, which sits over the polar region during the winter season.” The record breaking cold hit Aitkin in late January, congesting roads and initiating car accidents.
Many school districts closed their doors during these dangerous wind chills. Aitkin Public Schools closed on January 29-31. So far this year, Aitkin High School has been closed four days with a two hour early out on Feb. 7. The Aitkin School District designated the ice day on Jan. 7 to be made up on Feb. 15 for both students and teachers. The other three snow days were pardoned by the Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz.
On Jan. 30, the National Weather Service stated that in Northern Minnesota the wind chills were forecasted to drop down to 65 to 70 degrees below zero, which would rival the coldest wind chill recorded in Minnesota at 71 below in 1982. 216 million people of the continental United States were forecasted to see below freezing temperatures and 84 million were forecasted to see below zero temperatures. Minnesota had a forecast of wind chills to be in the -40 to -50 range on Jan. 31. By the 30th, nine deaths were found linked to the cold temperatures and extreme weather in the U.S.
Mail and package delivery carriers were canceled or suspended their services in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, New York and more states due to the dangerous weather conditions.
Flights in and out of the United States were also affected by the polar vortex and its freezing temperatures. On Jan. 29, around 1,097 flights were canceled according to FlightAware, and 999 flights were delayed. From the same source, the next day 2,192 flights were canceled and 1,125 flights were delayed. On Jan. 31, nearly 6,400 flights were canceled in and out of the U.S. since the snow and cold began on the 29.
Most states in the Northern Midwest were affected by the polar vortex and its dangerous wind chills, leaving frostbite and delays in its wake. According to the National Weather Service, the vortex is usually situated at earth's poles, weakening in the summer and getting stronger in the winter. During the winter, the vortex will expand, sending cold air southward and into the Northern part of the U.S and temporarily chilling the states.
Published Feb. 21, 2019
The polar vortex brought a historic cold to much of Minnesota from January 29-31 causing many businesses and schools to close for the time being.
According to Accuweather.com, “A polar vortex is a large pocket of very cold air, typically the coldest air in the Northern Hemisphere, which sits over the polar region during the winter season.” The record breaking cold hit Aitkin in late January, congesting roads and initiating car accidents.
Many school districts closed their doors during these dangerous wind chills. Aitkin Public Schools closed on January 29-31. So far this year, Aitkin High School has been closed four days with a two hour early out on Feb. 7. The Aitkin School District designated the ice day on Jan. 7 to be made up on Feb. 15 for both students and teachers. The other three snow days were pardoned by the Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz.
On Jan. 30, the National Weather Service stated that in Northern Minnesota the wind chills were forecasted to drop down to 65 to 70 degrees below zero, which would rival the coldest wind chill recorded in Minnesota at 71 below in 1982. 216 million people of the continental United States were forecasted to see below freezing temperatures and 84 million were forecasted to see below zero temperatures. Minnesota had a forecast of wind chills to be in the -40 to -50 range on Jan. 31. By the 30th, nine deaths were found linked to the cold temperatures and extreme weather in the U.S.
Mail and package delivery carriers were canceled or suspended their services in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, New York and more states due to the dangerous weather conditions.
Flights in and out of the United States were also affected by the polar vortex and its freezing temperatures. On Jan. 29, around 1,097 flights were canceled according to FlightAware, and 999 flights were delayed. From the same source, the next day 2,192 flights were canceled and 1,125 flights were delayed. On Jan. 31, nearly 6,400 flights were canceled in and out of the U.S. since the snow and cold began on the 29.
Most states in the Northern Midwest were affected by the polar vortex and its dangerous wind chills, leaving frostbite and delays in its wake. According to the National Weather Service, the vortex is usually situated at earth's poles, weakening in the summer and getting stronger in the winter. During the winter, the vortex will expand, sending cold air southward and into the Northern part of the U.S and temporarily chilling the states.