AccuWeather long-range forecasters are warning that a significant shift in the weather pattern could bring a blast of frigid Arctic air to parts of the United States in the second half of March, potentially lingering into early April.

The polar vortex that has dealt the most brutal winter to much of the US in recent years is about to be broken down – but not before unleashing a late-season cold and the biggest yet. A stratospheric warming event has begun,

A polar vortex collapse. Now, meteorologists are calling for another collapse in the middle of March, one that could plunge the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe into a bitterly cold spell just days before the official arrival of spring.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains that a polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air currents which circulate around both of the Earth’s poles. It has a circular shape and is at it’s peak during the winter months.

What is the polar vortex? The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure, cold air around the Earth's poles that blows westward during the winter

The Met Office has warned eBritain could face a bitter blast later this month, with forecasts indicating the potential for a sudden stratospheric warming event within the coming weeks. This development could dash any remaining hopes for a mild end to the winter season.

A polar vortex collapse is expected to bring severe winter weather to Canada and the US mid-month. This event could also affect the UK and Europe, disrupting weather patterns as cold Arctic air spills southward,

The Met Office has declared it is "almost certain" that a sudden stratospheric warming will hit Britain in mid-March, potentially bringing a cold snap to the UK. A spokesman for the meteorological service told GB News: "The stratosphere polar vortex is now weakening rapidly.