A significant cold snap has triggered an icy roads alert across the Midwest, with temperatures plummeting below freezing and causing widespread ice formation on roads and highways. The National Weather Service (NWS) attributes this hazardous weather pattern to a polar vortex descending from Canada, bringing frigid air and increasing the risk of ice accumulation. The NWS has issued advisories urging drivers to exercise extreme caution due to reduced visibility and treacherous surfaces, recommending reduced speed, increased following distance, and avoidance of sudden braking or acceleration. Bridges and overpasses are particularly susceptible to ice formation.