A chilling “polar vortex” is set to send shivers down the spines of millions in the US as Arctic chills head south this February. Forecasters are warning folks to gear up for a snowy, icy few weeks, cautioning that “daughter vortices” could split from the main polar vortex and cause chaos across the States.

Severe Weather Europe scientists flagged a hefty temperature tumble around mid-month, with an article stating: “The surface temperature forecast for this period shows a strong cold polar air outbreak across the northern, central, and eastern United States.

“Despite being just a single forecast, this is exactly what we usually expect following rapid and strong Polar Vortex split events in the stratosphere.”

The National Weather Service describes the polar vortex as a “large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles,” which gets nastier in winter and can spell trouble for North Americans. As the coldest months roll in, the polar vortex might push freezing gusts towards the USA, historically leading to some of the most extreme cold spells on record.

After a historic snowfall event that smashed records in usually sunny Florida and other southern parts last month, forecasters have released a long-range prediction. The rare winter storm delivered ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ whiteout conditions, with an astonishing 9.8 inches of snow near Milton, Florida, potentially topping the state’s all-time snow record from 1954.

“It’s an incredible, incredible event,” remarked Michael Mugrage, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mobile, Alabama, where some of the heaviest snow was recorded. “It puts it in perspective how rare this is.”

New Orleans and surrounding areas also experienced hefty snowfall, with reports of 10 inches exceeding the city’s previous high of 2.7 inches from 1963.

An unconfirmed report claimed Saint Bernard Parish east of New Orleans got hit with 11.5 inches. Houston saw up to four inches of snow, despite lacking snowplows, and La Porte, Texas, southeast of Houston, had a preliminary report of six inches.

Over four inches also blanketed Charleston, leading to the closure of the airport and the massive Ravenel Bridge due to the threat of ice chunks falling from its frozen cables.

This same storm system brought record-breaking low temperatures across the Deep South.