Maine May Escape America’s Coldest Day in 30 Years

For most of the nation, the last pair of winters have been anything but winter-like. In Maine, much of the last two winters has been filled with mild temperatures as well as rain and wind storms which has led to below average snow fall.

Winter is only a few weeks into its latest season, but it has looked much different than the past couple of years for most of New England. There's been more rain storms than snow storms and temperatures have been cold but still not bitter.

That is about to change.

The Dreaded 'Polar Vortex' is Forecasted to Arrive Next Week

Shared on Facebook by meteorologist Bryan Hughes, a 'polar vortex' is being forecasted to arrive throughout most of the country by the end of next week.

That will plunge places like the Ohio valley into dangerous below-zero cold. But it will also leave warmer areas like the Gulf Coast and other parts of Florida to experience the type of cold typically reserved for northern parts of the U.S. exclusively.

What is a 'Polar Vortex'?

According to the National Weather Service, a 'polar vortex' is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding Earth's poles. Occasionally, the polar vortex expands and extends into the United States,

The last notable instance of a polar vortex was in 2014 when about one-third of the United States felt the extended affects of a polar vortex which included frozen pipes, enhanced cases of frostbite and more.

Forecasts Suggest Maine Will Escape The Full Effect of the 'Polar Vortex'

Based on both the GFS and EURO forecast models, Maine and much of New England appear to escape the full effects of the brutal cold from the incoming 'polar vortex'.

Make no mistake, it will be cold. And if the GFS model is correct, Maine will see a small taste of polar temperatures where highs could struggle to reach 20 degrees and lows could be hovering around or below zero.