A powerful polar vortex is bringing dangerous and life-threatening cold temperatures across much of the United States, affecting nearly 90 million people, including areas as far south as Texas and Florida. Records are being shattered, with temperatures plunging to as much as 50 degrees below normal in some regions. The Arctic air mass is dominating the weather east of the Rockies, forcing communities to cope with extreme cold warnings and bitter wind chills reaching -40 degrees. While parts of California are avoiding the worst of the freeze, the central U.S. is bracing for an arctic blast that could bring temperatures as low as -50°F, disrupting daily life and leading to significant challenges, including multiple crashes and intense snowstorms. As the nation toughs it out through this brutal cold, the potential for a brief warm-up is anticipated in the coming days, although forecasts suggest that more extreme cold could follow.