STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — If you’ve been keeping a tab on winter forecasts, you’ve likely heard the term “polar vortex” and the potential impact it may have on the upcoming season. But exactly what is the polar vortex and what does it mean for New York residents this winter?
Fortunately, Paul Pastelok, an AccuWeather senior meteorologist and lead U.S. long range forecaster, spoke to the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com and clarified the role the polar vortex could play in the winter of 2024-25. Where it stands, the polar vortex may result in an extended blast of arctic air in the U.S. at the tail end of the season.
What is the polar vortex?
The polar vortex is a “constant feature” that begins to “show up” sometime in September and typically persists through April or May.
Pastelok said the polar vortex is an area of low pressure in the upper layers of the atmosphere that rests over the polar region…