얼어붙은 시카고 , 미시건 호수 , 강추위 원인 극 소용돌이 Polar Vortex

북극에서 불어오는 찬 바람 영향이라고 하는데, 모든 게 얼어붙었다.자연이 무섭다

북극을 중심으로 보통 상주하는 저기압 북극 공기가 떠도는 지역이 바로 ' 극 소용돌이 Polar Vortex ' 이다. 

(남극도 마찬가지) 

 북극을 중심으로 보통 상주하는 저기압 북극 공기가 떠도는 지역이 바로 ' 극 소용돌이 Polar Vortex ' 이다. (남극도 마찬가지) 보통 때면 제트 기류가 이 북극 소용돌이를 막아서고 있다. 

제트 기류는, 지상 2만 5천 피트~ 3만 5천 피트 상공에 있는 바람인데 마치 강물처럼 흐르고, 이 제트기류가 찬 공기와 따뜻한 공기를 갈라놓는다. 이것이 고기압 저기압 체계를 만들어 낸다. 

북극 소용돌이가 어떻게 해서 남쪽으로 내려오는가? 고기압 전선이 제트 기류를 위로 밀어내면, 북극 소용돌이가 더 빠른 속도로 남쪽으로 내려온다. 제트기류가 북쪽으로 향하면서, 북극 소용돌이 (찬 바람)는 북 아메리카로 내려오고, 미국 중서부와 동부 지방 (캐나다 등) 온도를 영하로 떨어뜨린다.

보통 때면 제트 기류가 이 북극 소용돌이를 막아서고 있다. 

제트 기류는,  지상 2만 5천 피트~ 3만 5천 피트 상공에 있는 바람인데 마치 강물처럼 흐르고, 이 제트기류가 찬 공기와 따뜻한 공기를 갈라놓는다. 이것이 고기압 저기압 체계를 만들어 낸다. 

북극 소용돌이가 어떻게 해서 남쪽으로 내려오는가?

고기압 전선이 제트 기류를 위로 밀어내면, 북극 소용돌이가 더 빠른 속도로 남쪽으로 내려온다. 

제트기류가 북쪽으로 향하면서, 북극 소용돌이 (찬 바람)는 북 아메리카로 내려오고, 미국 중서부와 동부 지방 (캐나다 등) 온도를 영하로 떨어뜨린다.

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News  Weather

After 13 days of snow, temperatures plummet in Chicago area as polar vortex cold snap begins

Snow and arctic air arrive in Chicago

An arctic blast of air that may set new record cold temperatures sets in over Chicago. (Chicago Tribune)

Hannah Leone and Elvia MalagonContact Reporters

Chicago Tribune

A fresh blast of frigid arctic air sent temperatures plummeting overnight and produced dangerously cold conditions that prompted schools, cultural institutions and government buildings including courthouses to call off business for Wednesday.

All of northeast Illinois, northwest Indiana and southern Wisconsin was under a wind chill warning starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday until noon Thursday, with a wind chill advisory in effect until the warning period begins. Wednesday was expected to see air temperatures that range from minus 15 to minus 26, according to the National Weather Service.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation Tuesday to provide resources to officials across the state.

“This storm poses a serious threat to the well-being of people around the state, and we will use every tool at our disposal to keep our residents safe,” Pritzker said in a statement. “This disaster proclamation ensures that the state of Illinois has the flexibility to effectively and efficiently respond to the needs of local governments during this extreme weather event.”

Here's a running list of everything that's closed due to the weather »

During a news conference Tuesday at one of the city’s two 24-hour shelters, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the declaration will help the city recover funds for the additional services it’s providing, which range from indoor activities at park field houses for children to warming buses for the city’s homeless.

Emanuel pointed to Sunday’s rescue by Chicago police officers of a 33-year-old man and his dog from the frigid water off Foster Beach as an example of residents looking out for each other during the dangerous conditions.

“Every one of us have a role to check on somebody, that may be a neighbor on the block who is elderly or needs extra help,” Emanuel said.

On Monday, Cook County logged the 20th death attributed to cold weather since Oct. 30. A 39-year-old man was pronounced dead Monday at Evanston Hospital. On Tuesday, officials determined he died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease with obesity and hypothermia as contributing factors, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. His death was ruled an accident.

The potentially record-setting temperatures come after 13 consecutive days with at least a trace of snow at O’Hare International Airport, according to the weather service. More snow could be on the way, with a chance of light snow Wednesday morning and again Thursday night.

The last time the area recorded 13 consecutive days of snow was from Nov. 26, 1978, to Dec. 8, 1978— the same winter as the blizzard of ’79, the weather service reported. But that stretch saw much more snow, with 23.5 inches recorded.

The polar vortex explained

(Jemal R. Brinson / Chicago Tribune)

Frigid temperatures

The prolonged cold snap in much of the Midwest and East Coast is due to a disruption in the polar vortex. The cold front moved into the area from Monday night to Tuesday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, the area was expected to feel wind chills as low as minus 20 to minus 30, according to the National Weather Service. And the wind chills would drop to 50 to 60 below zero overnight.

As a second, even more brutal cold surge moved in Tuesday evening, temperatures Wednesday could reach 20 degrees below zero or colder, according to the weather service.

“It certainly gets cold in Chicago wintertime, but this is going to be record-breaking cold,” said Kevin Donofrio, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

The stretch of subzero temperatures, flirting with Chicago’s all-time low, is expected to last into Thursday, with the temperature at O’Hare possibly not rising above zero degrees until early Friday.

As of Tuesday afternoon, it appeared the area had more of a chance of hitting the record low early Thursday rather than early Wednesday, said Casey Sullivan, a meteorologist for the weather service. The low for Wednesday morning was expected to be minus 24 while the low for Thursday morning was expected to be minus 26, Sullivan said.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Chicago was 27 below zero on Jan. 20, 1985. While that record isn’t certain to fall, daily record lows for Jan. 29 of minus 16 and for Jan. 30 of minus 15 could be bested, as could the coldest daytime high in Chicago of 11 below zero, set Christmas Eve 1983.

For updates on the forecast, check the Tribune’s weather page.

 Sunrise over Chicago on a frigid day

The sunrise at 31st Street Beach on a frigid morning in Chicago on Jan. 29, 2019. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)

Closings

Chicago Public Schools canceled all classes and activities that were scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Most schools and some churches and other institutions have been listing closings on the Emergency Closing Center website.

Alonzo Williams, from the Chicago Park District, said park field houses across the city will be offering free drop-in programs for students. The programs will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and include activities like basketball and arts and crafts. Parents have to register on the district’s website or in person.

Warming shelters

Two warming centers operated by the city’s Department of Family and Support Services will be open 24 hours. On the South Side, the King Center is at 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave., in Bronzeville, and on the West Side the Garfield Center is at 10 S. Kedzie Ave., in the Fifth City neighborhood.

Lyft, the ride-sharing app, was offering free rides with a value of up to $25 to Chicago residents trying to get to one of the city’s warming centers, according to an email from the company. Users should use the code “CHIJAYDEN19,” for the offer that will remain valid until Friday. A complete list of warming centers can be found on the city’s data portal.

Lisa Morrison Butler, commissioner of the family and support services, said Tuesday that senior centers across the city have extended hours to 8 p.m. during the cold snap. An additional 500 beds were being sent to shelters, Morrison Butler said. Five CTA buses were being used as warming buses for those without shelter, Morrison Butler said.

“No one should be on the street during this weather,” Morrison Butler said. “We have and will continue to add resources so that every Chicagoan that needs them has the opportunity to get them.”

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The city is also coordinating with religious leaders to reach out to vulnerable populations — senior citizens and those with disabilities — to make sure they make it through the frigid temperatures, Morrison Butler said.

Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th St., sent out an email to its congregation saying they were planning to open a makeshift warming center.

Park District field houses, which often have evening hours, are for the first time this winter formally among the buildings used as warming centers.

Additional warming centers for suburban Cook County can be found on the county’s Homeland Security website. The county was also using courthouses in Markham, Bridgeview, Maywood, Skokie and Rolling Meadows as warming centers from Tuesday night to Thursday, according to a news release from Cook County.

Other areas, including DuPage and Will counties, also have lists of warming centers.

Enforcement of heating ordinance

The city’s department of buildings conducted more than 500 heating inspections since Thursday, said Judy Frydland, the department’s commissioner. On Tuesday, a team of 25 city inspectors were out checking on buildings and monitoring complaints from 311.

Landlords are required to maintain buildings at 68 degrees during daytime hours and 66 degrees overnight from Sept. 15 through June 1, Frydland said. She advised tenants to contact their landlord first about a heating issue. But if the issue isn’t immediately resolved, Frydland said residents should contact 311. She also gave a stern warning to landlords, noting that they have taken 12 cases to Cook County Circuit Court.

Travel and transit

Illinois road conditions are updated on the Illinois Department of Transportation’s website.

The CTA and Metra often experience mechanical difficulties in extreme cold. Metra planned to operate on a modified schedule Wednesday because of the frigid temperatures, according to officials. Details can be found on Metra’s website.

The agency also was working to keep its switches from freezing. In extremely cold weather, Metra uses gas flames to keep snow and ice from building along switches. It also puts direct flames on tracks during cold weather to help with repairs.

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8:13 AM - Jan 29, 2019 · Chicago, IL

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Chicago airports had more than 1,400 flights canceled Monday because of weather. The city’s Aviation Department was reporting almost 500 flight cancellations, with departure delays averaging less than 15 minutes at O’Hare and Midway airports by 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. The department has delay and cancellation information on its website, and links to individual airlines’ flight information.

What to do

Frostbite can start quickly — anticipated wind chills may cause exposed skin to become frostbitten in just five minutes, forecasters warn — so it’s crucial to bundle up before going outside through Thursday afternoon.

“If you don’t have to be outside, don’t go outside,” Donofrio said. “This is not the time to mess around.”

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Chicago Tribune’s Liam Ford contributed.