An intense winter storm with hurricane-force winds is expected to hit the Midwest on Wednesday. The bomb cyclone follows an active winter season where polar vortex winds created dangerous conditions throughout parts of the U.S.

It's not the first time these conditions have hit the country.

Last year, it was so cold Niagara Falls partially froze. Bomb cyclones, polar vortexes, and arctic air masses blanketed the region. New England saw hurricane-force winds, Maine and Boston had blizzard warnings, and it snowed in Florida.

Are these atmospheric conditions as scary as their names make them sound? And are they normal?

We answer your questions here.