Erin Davis/Axios Visuals All of Virginia will be freezing early this week. Why it matters: The hazardous cold could be a public health risk, threaten to burst pipes, and stress electricity grids. The big picture: A powerful Arctic outbreak tied partly to the polar vortex is set to send temperatures tumbling down to as cold as 25 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit below average for mid-January,

Imagine the polar vortex as a giant, icy whirlpool far above the Earth, keeping frigid Arctic air contained near the north pole.

The most unusually cold air in the Northern Hemisphere will be over the United States early next week, bringing dangerously frigid conditions.

An area stretching from Texas to Tennessee braced Wednesday for the possible arrival of freezing rain and snow even as some parts of the U.S. hit by the plunging polar vortex this week began to shake off its icy effects.

WASHINGTON — Get ready for extreme cold weather in D.C. and most of the U.S. over the next few days. The polar vortex has shifted, spilling cold air across the U.S. with below freezing temperatures and subzero wind chills.

Snow and winds are likely to disrupt traffic, trigger flight cancellations, and cause headaches for people traveling to D.C. for Inauguration Day. Baby, it’s cold outside, and it’s about to get even colder for much of the United States.

(AP) — The plunging polar vortex ... Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois and Missouri, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us. In Virginia’s capital, Richmond, a weather ...

(AP) — A huge swath of the U.S. was blasted with ice, snow and wind on Monday as the polar vortex that dipped south ... with districts in Indiana, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas ...

As more Arctic air masses flow into the WOWK-TV region, you have undoubtedly heard the term “Polar Vortex” brought up in the conversation. But what is it? Definition:

Temperatures are projected to remain frigid in Hampton Roads, with highs only reaching the 20s on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

However, a deep freeze, thanks to the polar vortex dipping down from Siberia, is bringing an even harsher arctic blast to million Americans this week. Maps show what to expect as the cold front ...

Global News meteorologist Anthony Farnell said the chilly temperatures, caused by a polar vortex spinning across Canada, will “overwhelm” and will start this weekend and carry into next week.