What is the polar vortex?

This is the time of year arctic blasts are known to invade the region. One term that has been popularized in the past few years w/ regards to this is the "polar vortex." It sounds very menacing and it's a real weather phenomenon.The polar vortex is nothing more than an expansive area of low pressure and cold conditions at the top and bottom of the world at the poles. The fast winds high in the atmosphere are where the term vortex originates.The polar vortex is always there but it's stronger in t