The polar vortex is like a spinning top

begin partial quote from:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/15/climate/why-extreme-cold-during-global-warming/index.html

The polar vortex is like a spinning top. In its normal state it rotates very fast, keeping blisteringly cold air locked in the Arctic region. But it can get disrupted and knocked off course, becoming stretched and distorted, spilling out cold air and influencing the path of the jet stream.

It happened in 2021, bringing fierce cold to Texas, leading to nearly 250 deaths and knocking out power to large parts of the state.

This is where the link to climate change comes in. Some scientists believe polar vortex disruptions and changes to the jet stream are being driven by warming in the Arctic, which is heating up around four times faster than the rest of the planet.

The idea has been gaining traction since a 2012 paper by Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Massachusetts. It found that as the Arctic warms, the difference between the cold temperatures in the north and warm temperatures in the south is leading to a weaker, wavier jet stream, which pushes very cold air southwards. 

end quote.

Since the arctic is warming 4 times faster than the rest of the planet, you can see how polar vortex forays as far south as Texas, Alabama and Florida can still sometimes happen. For example, over 80% of the U.S. this weekend are or will be experiencing below Freezing temperatures to as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit wind chills where after 5 minutes outside you are likely to have frostbite or worse. And this is somewhat common now if you venture outside for any reason in most northern States affected by the latest Polar Vortex slipping down as far as Texas.