Meteorologists had predicted that parts of the U.S. would experience the 10th and coldest polar vortex event this season. Weather forces in the Arctic are pushing chilly air that usually stays near the North Pole into the U.S. and Europe.

Harsh weather moved west as a polar vortex was expected to grip the Rockies and the northern Plains after winter storms pummeled the eastern U.S. over the weekend.

Bitter cold has descended on swathes of the US this week, as the nation faces its 10th – and coldest – polar vortex of the season. In a normal winter, you can expect to see this happen two or three times.

The latest blast of frigid air will linger across the central and eastern U.S. through much of the week while another winter storm will dump heavy snow from the Rockies to souther Appalachians.

An Arctic blast tied in part to the polar vortex is driving record frigid air south from the Northern Plains toward the Gulf Coast Tuesday in a cold snap that will last the entire week. Threat level: This event is forecast to set records for the coldest temperatures on record for this late in the season,

The death toll in the storms that devastated Kentucky over the weekend has risen to 14 — and the impacted communities will have to brace for more winter weather.