2014 North American polar vortex Facts for Kids

The 2014 North American polar vortex was a major weather event. It caused very cold temperatures across Canada and the United States. Freezing weather reached as far south as Nashville, Tennessee. Many cities experienced record-breaking cold. For example, Chicago O'Hare International Airport recorded −15 °F (−26 °C) on January 6. This broke old records from 1884 and 1988. The extreme cold also led to power outages in both countries. In Newfoundland, 190,000 homes lost power on January 5. Nearly 24,000 people in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana also lost electricity.

What Was the 2014 Polar Vortex?
- How Cold Did It Get?
- Impact on Daily Life
Images for kids
See also

What Was the 2014 Polar Vortex?

A polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air. It usually stays near the Earth's North and South Poles. Sometimes, this cold air can move south. This happens when the jet stream, a fast-moving air current, changes its path. In early 2014, the jet stream dipped far south. This allowed the very cold polar air to spread across North America.

How Cold Did It Get?

The temperatures during this event were unusually low. Many places saw their coldest days in decades.

Chicago hit −15 °F (−26 °C) (about -26°C).
Even southern states like Tennessee felt the deep freeze.
The cold was so intense that water vapor rose from open bodies of water. This made places like the Chicago River and Lake Michigan look like they were steaming.

Impact on Daily Life

The extreme cold affected daily life for millions of people.

In Minnesota, Governor Mark Dayton ordered all schools to close. This was to keep students safe from the dangerous temperatures.
Across Indiana, more than 50 of the 92 counties closed roads. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to drive. This mostly happened in areas north of Indianapolis.
Many flights were canceled or delayed.
People were advised to stay indoors to avoid frostbite and hypothermia.
Sadly, the very cold weather was dangerous. It led to some deaths across North America.