The reason, according to one meteorologist, is a polar vortex that is sucking air piled up at the North Pole down the U.S., funneling it as far south as the Gulf Coast.

Temperature records will likely be broken during the short, yet forceful deep freeze that will begin in many places on Sunday and extend into early next week.

Cities and states are already taking precautions. Minnesota called off school for Monday statewide, the first such closing in 17 years, because of projected highs in the minus teens and lows as cold as 30 below.