A polar vortex is slated to sweep most of the continental United States bringing a hazardous freeze to millions of Americans from the Deep South to the Northeast Saturday going into next week.

Snow and winds are likely to trigger flight cancellations and cause headaches for people traveling to DC for Inauguration Day.

We start the following work week with a polar vortex. This will bring in unseasonably cold air to the region and wind chill temperatures back to the negatives. But what is a polar vortex? The polar vortex is the jet stream above the Arctic Circle.

The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure, winds, and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles, according to the National Weather Service. The term “vortex” refers to the circulation of air that helps keep the colder air near the Poles. This vortex has always existed and is not something new.

Abnormal weather events and severe winter storms could be caused by a disrupted polar vortex. Find out here how the polar vortex affects the weather.

A series of disturbances in the atmosphere is sending the polar vortex south (again) next week with a burst of even colder Arctic air than last week.

A spell of dangerously cold weather is creeping through the area this weekend that will drop high temperatures below zero with wind chills as cold as -40 possible at times. With these temperatures and wind chill values, injury or worse could occur in a very short amount of time if not taken seriously or cautiously.

Houston, Texas, is experiencing below-average temperatures as a polar vortex ushers in cooler ... chill gripping the region. The National Weather Service predicts a 40% chance of showers ...

A new blast of Arctic air sweeping from north to south will bring bone-chilling temperatures to millions of Americans this weekend and next week.

It's going to get cold in Tennessee. Meteorologists predict freezing temperatures for much of the state. Here's the latest.

A blast of Arctic air is set to cover much of the United States with temperatures below freezing starting on Friday and into next week, impacting millions of Americans in nearly all of the contiguous states.