Life-threatening winter storm has cut a wide swath of hazardous condition in the east side of the United States, prompting warnings to stay off roads, as more than 10,000 flights were canceled and power outages across eight southern states reported.
The storm has spread a crippling mix of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain from the Ohio Valley and mid-south to new England Monday, Manila time, covering 118 million people as the deep freeze strained energy supplies, with prolonged travel disruptions predicted.
Should the Arctic cold gripping much of the United States east of the Rockies be a source of concern and anxiety for tropical countries like the Philippines?
Of course, since extreme freezing weather in the Arctic has direct and indirect impacts on tropical countries like the Philippines.
While the Philippines does not experience snow, the disruption of the Arctic polar vortex often leads to stronger amihan (northeast monsoon) surges, resulting in significantly colder temperatures, increased rainfall, and potential agricultural damage, according to climatologists.
Meteorologists say the significant temperature dips suggest the weakening of the Arctic polar vortex which allows cold air to travel to lower latitudes, strengthening the amihan. As of late January 2026, mountainous areas in the Philippines have experienced temperatures dropping to around 7.5°C–10.6°C.
Another impact points to frost formation on crops – the extreme cold causes frost in high-altitude areas like Atok, Benguet, covering crops and destroying agricultural products.
Yet another impact points to increased rain and landslides, where the interaction of the cold air surge with warmer local air frequently causes increased rainfall and, in some cases, shear lines that bring floods and landslides.
There is also the unusual cold spell which can can cause health issues, including respiratory infections, and places strain on housing and infrastructure not designed for low temperatures.
Given the archipelagic nature of this country of 117 million people, scientists say the rapid melting of Arctic ice, which often accompanies shifting weather patterns, contributes to long-term sea-level rise, threatening populated coastal communities.
Sea levels around the Philippines are rising at a rate about three times faster than the global average – roughly 3.7 mm per year – some areas in the Philippines have seen increases up to 14.7 mm annually, which is directly linked to the melting of polar ice caps and the expansion of warming ocean water.
Rising sea levels also pose an existential threat to 60 percent of Philippine local government units, covering 64 coastal provinces and 25 major cities, and an estimated 13.6 million Filipinos may need relocation due to coastal flooding, shoreline erosion, and the permanent submersion of low-lying areas.
Scientists say since the Arctic acts as the world’s “refrigerator” and helps regulate global temperatures, its rapid melting causes ripple effects, including faster-than-average sea level rise, increased storm intensity, and disruptions to agricultural cycles.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reports the cold weather is expected to last until early 2026, with temperatures potentially dipping further due to the current Arctic cold surge now .
