Summary:
- A powerful Arctic blast is expected to bring dangerously cold temperatures and heavy snowfall to a large portion of the United States, affecting over 150 million people.
- The extreme cold temperatures can cause trees and other objects to explode, as the rapid freezing and expansion of water inside them can create cracks and splits.
- This type of weather event is a result of the polar vortex, a large area of low pressure and cold air that typically circulates around the North Pole, but can sometimes break apart and send frigid air southward.