The intense cold snap about to settle over most of Canada and the U.S. has been dubbed a “polar vortex’, but Environment Canada Senior Climatologist David Phillips says it could just as easily be called “Arctic air or Siberian air.”

The cold temperatures are coming from a not uncommon expansion in the Polar Vortex, which are counter-clockwise rotating air currents that typically hang over the Arctic.

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 ...

A strong polar vortex in the stratosphere has brought subzero temperatures to the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and deep into the South.

The unseasonable chill that has swept through the eastern half of the US defies last year's mild winters and the South's typical warmth.

Scientists say a warming planet may have been responsible for a winter storm that dropped 10 inches of snow on Northwest Florida.

A winter storm sweeping through the U.S. South on Tuesday was dumping snow at levels millions of residents haven’t seen before

Once the snow starts to come in, the temperature will essentially drop like a rock,” Fox Forecast Center Meteorologist Marissa Lautenbacher told The Post.

Research has found that rising temperatures in the Arctic are weakening weather systems that normally trap the cold around the poles, making winter weather more chaotic.

If someone asked you, “Where can I go in the United States to escape the frigid air this January?” what would you say?

Understanding the Polar Vortex The polar vortex is like a massive whirlpool of frigid air moving around our planet's poles. Think of it as a barrier that, when strong, keeps icy polar air trapped up north.

The polar vortex can be a powerful source of winter weather, but it's not the only cause of severe cold and snow in regions better known for warmth and sunshine. The Gulf Coast states are still digging out of the snowdrifts, but at least warmer temperatures are on tap heading into the weekend.