As winter settles in, the Earth’s tilt away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere ushers in a familiar climatic phenomenon: the polar vortex. This high-altitude wind pattern can significantly influence winter weather across the United States. Last winter, for example, the polar vortex was responsible for bringing frigid temperatures to much of the central U.S., while pushing warm, moist air from the Pacific over south-central Alaska, leading to unusual January rainfall.

With the polar vortex making its presence felt once more, the first significant winter storm of the season is poised to impact areas from Ohio to New England.

For those in the storm’s path, it’s advisable to stay indoors if possible and keep warm. Good luck weathering the storm.

Weekend winter storm to hit Northeast Coast amid brutal cold from Polar Vortex, bringing snow for millions pic.twitter.com/3pKZ7BUYbF

— New York Post (@nypost) December 12, 2025

The article at the link has this to say:

Millions along the Interstate 95 corridor on the Northeast coast will see their first significant winter storm of the season this weekend, as a fast-moving system takes advantage of freezing temperatures brought by another invasion of the polar vortex. 

A widespread 1–3 inches of snow is expected from Indiana through Ohio and into Maryland, Washington, DC, New Jersey, and New York City beginning Saturday and lasting through Sunday morning.

Parts of southern New England as far north as Providence, Rhode Island could see accumulating snow.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the circulation of the polar vortex will weaken into the weekend, which will allow more cold air to spill into the Midwest and Northeast, priming the pump, so to speak, to turn any moisture that moves across the region into snow.

This comes after record low temperatures were already set on Tuesday in New England.

If you’re in the path of this storm, good luck, stay indoors if you can, and stay warm.