January is already known as the coldest month of the year, but this year’s temperatures have been even lower than normal. North America is currently going through an arctic blast, with this January being the coldest in over ten years. 

Leading up to January 2025, America has experienced an unusually warm winter. In December, the average high temperature was around 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but since the new year hit, the weather has dropped instantly. These past few weeks have already been reaching below 10 degrees in temperature, but now the upcoming weeks will only be getting colder, dropping into the negatives. 

Next week, a polar vortex will be hitting America hard, but what is a polar vortex? A polar vortex is a swirling cold air mass hovering above the troposphere. Polar vortexes can cause extreme winter weather including strong winds, snow, hail, and icy conditions.

“‘The potentially life-threatening cold is due to a disrupted polar vortex. That is cold enough that you do need to prepare,’ Merwin said. ‘That is especially true for those who live in parts of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, who are still in recovery mode after Hurricane Helene devastated the region and left countless people without homes.’” (FOX WEATHER). 

This recent and upcoming weather has the chance to lead to hypothermia or frostbite if you’re not careful enough. It’s recommended to keep warm and make sure you’re all bundled up, especially when leaving the house.