Table of Contents
- What Is the Polar Vortex?
- What Causes the Polar Vortex?
- How Long Does A Polar Vortex Last?
- How Can The Polar Vortex Damage My Business?
- How to Prepare Your Business for Artic Blasts and Winter Weather
- Contact Us
If you live in the U.S., you have likely been affected by a deep freeze, a snowstorm, or other winter weather-related events.
Understanding the differences between these events, how they can impact your business, and how you can best prepare depending on your region is essential.
Let’s start with some basic questions/definitions.
What Is the Polar Vortex?
The Polar Vortex is a large area of low-pressure and cold air surrounding Earth’s poles.
It strengthens in the winter, causing the area to expand as far as the Midwest and Plains states. This sends blasts of frigid air into the Midwest and the Plains states, causing frozen pipes and severe winter weather conditions. The Polar Vortex is a regular occurrence in the United States.
The term ‘vortex’ refers to the counterclockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air near the Poles. It’s worth noting that polar vortexes happen around every other year and are not new.
Many times, during winter in the northern hemisphere, the polar vortex will expand, sending cold air southward. This occurs fairly regularly during wintertime and is often associated with large outbreaks of Arctic air in the United States.
The only danger to humans is the magnitude of the cold temperatures that will occur when the polar vortex expands, sending Arctic air southward into areas that are not typically that cold.
What Causes the Polar Vortex?
A polar vortex expansion happens when a weather event disrupts the low-pressure system.
The jet stream of wind that typically keeps cold air north does not have enough force to maintain the same pants current path, so high-pressure systems hold air south.
The lobes that are formed because of this movement then stretch and move south, causing Arctic air to spill and cause lower temperatures in the areas affected.
How Long Does A Polar Vortex Last?
This varies depending on a range of factors, with abnormally cold temperatures potentially lasting anywhere from a week to more than a month.
For example, in February 2021 the polar vortex event by Winter Storm Uri lasted ten days for most, but the impact was felt for several weeks in areas, such as Oklahoma and Texas. These lasting impacts on the winter weather patterns can continue to affect weather for several weeks.
How Can The Polar Vortex Damage My Business?
These damaging winds caused by the Arctic weather are strong enough to cause severe damage to your business.
Below are just a couple of the ways the polar vortex can damage your business:
Roof Damage
Your roof may suffer winter weather damage due to the strong, cold winds. Roof damage provides an easy entrance for snow or water to enter and cause water damage to your business.
While the immediate damages of cold weather are worth noting, long-term damages could also occur. Snow or ice forming on your roof could lead to ice dams, which can damage your roof and cause water leaks in your facility.
Water damage that goes unaddressed on your roofs or walls could lead to mold, which may require mold removal to be addressed.
Frozen Pipes
Your water pipes may also freeze, leading to bursts and extensive water damage that may affect your property. Burst pipes were among the leading causes of damage caused by Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, with thousands of Texas homes and businesses having extensive water damage.
Frozen pipes are a concern for commercial buildings when temperatures are low enough. They are one of the leading causes of winter property damage. Taking preventative measures can save time and money.
Extreme cold weather has plagued the country the past few years, including devastating cold temperatures from the Polar Vortex, and meteorologists predict it will continue. In short, there is no cause to be alarmed when you hear about the polar vortex, but you should be prepared to protect your business during colder temperatures.
How to Prepare Your Business for Artic Blasts and Winter Weather
Follow these tips to ensure your business is prepared for any hazardous winter weather:
Insulate Your Pipes
Insulate pipes that are located in exterior walls or unheated areas, such as a basement. Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate pipes and let water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes.
Know Where Your Main Water Shut-off Valve is Located
If the unfortunate thing happens and you have a pipe burst, you’ll want to shut the water source off immediately.
Have a Backup Generator
Losing power is never convenient, but it could be catastrophic during frigid temperatures. Ensure you have a reliable backup generator to provide continuous power to your building if there’s an outage.
Heat Your Building
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety recommends heating buildings to at least 55°F - even unoccupied.
The cost of a burst pipe or other cold-related damage far outweighs the expense of keeping the temperature above freezing. Consider it an investment in preventing a much more significant loss.
Manage Snow & Ice
Also, manage snow and ice on your business property. Keep your parking lots plowed and sidewalks shoveled and salted. Put mats inside and outside your doors to minimize the amount of snow that’s tracked in.
Implement Business Continuity Plans
Extreme winter weather can wreak havoc on your property and your employees. Creating a business continuity plan can help you combat the impacts and get your business back up and running fast. Learn more here about why you need a Pre-Loss Agreement.
24/7 Winter Emergency Response: We're Here When You Need Us
Winter storms can wreak havoc on your business. Frozen pipes can burst, flooding your office and causing thousands in damage. A collapsed roof can shut down your operations for weeks. Don't wait until disaster strikes.
At ServiceMaster Recovery Management, we have 65 years of experience helping businesses like yours recover from winter damage. Our certified restoration experts are ready to respond 24/7 from our 300 locations nationwide. We'll help you avoid costly repairs, lost revenue, and disruptions to your operations.
Don't let winter catch you unprepared. Contact us anytime - we'll help you avoid precious downtime.