• A weakened polar vortex has unleashed record-breaking cold across the eastern U.S., with temperatures 10–25 F below normal, affecting over 105 million Americans. Cities like Miami could see lows in the 30s (F), while Southern states face freezing conditions.

• Lake-effect snow dumps 12–18 inches in the Midwest, with whiteout conditions and icy roads causing accidents. Airports face delays due to FAA staffing shortages, while New York deploys 1,571 snowplows for cleanup.

• Florida citrus farms narrowly escape damage, but strawberry/blueberry crops may benefit from cooler temps. Midwestern farmers fear a repeat of 2021's freeze, which devastated food supplies.

• Rolling blackouts loom as green energy policies strain grid reliability, forcing reliance on coal and wood stoves. Analysts warn of prolonged outages if cold persists.

• A Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event disrupted the vortex, sending Arctic air south earlier than usual. Officials urge stockpiling food and firewood, and checking on vulnerable neighbors amid fears of geoengineering or natural cycles causing extreme cold.

A brutal Arctic cold front, spawned by a weakening polar vortex, has descended upon the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. – bringing record-low temperatures, heavy snowfall and hazardous travel conditions.

Over 105 million Americans are under winter weather advisories, with regions from the Great Lakes to Florida experiencing temperatures 10 to 25 degrees below normal. The freeze has already triggered power grid concerns, agricultural warnings and flight cancellations – echoing the chaos of the February 2021 Texas blackout crisis.