As 2025 draws to a close, the Eastern United States is shaking off the last vestiges of an intensely cold period. Looking ahead to early 2026, weather patterns are predicted to shift, bringing warmer temperatures to the South and East. The polar vortex, a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth's poles, is expected to strengthen in January. This intensification typically acts as a barrier, containing frigid air masses near the Arctic and reducing the chances of prolonged cold spells in the mid-latitudes.