Meteorologists are predicting that the polar vortex is set to unleash two significant waves of Arctic air from Canada into the United States later this month, increasing the likelihood of intense cold outbreaks across much of the country. The first surge of cold air is expected around the weekend of January 17, followed by a more powerful and potentially extreme blast approximately a week later. AEM climatologist Judah Cohen has described the upcoming pattern as a two-stage event, noting that the second round could be more severe.