A series of disturbances in the atmosphere is sending the polar vortex south (again) next week with a burst of even colder Arctic air than last week.

Winter storms closed schools, snarled flights and put millions of residents on alert across parts of the Deep South and south-central United States.

With no teams left in the playoff, the region's long-running domination of the sport appears to be at an end. So what gives? "It’s different when you can’t say, ‘Next guy up!’ like you used to."

Rain will return to the state Saturday. Next week, temperatures will drop significantly. We are also tracking the chance for some precipitation by mid-week.

The Deep South went 0-3 ... USC stormed back against Texas A&M. And Illinois beat South Carolina. There’s another explanation for the South’s woes: Saban is no longer in the conference.

School was canceled Friday for millions of children across a wide tract of southern states from Texas to Georgia and as far east as South Carolina. Some of the heaviest snowfall was expected ...