Storm 'Unfreezes' North Pole, Causing Temperatures to Rise 50 Degrees Fahrenheit Above Normal

— -- A storm system that's recently brought extreme weather across the country also caused temperatures to rise about 50 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in the North Pole today.

The North Pole "unfroze" today, experiencing a temperature high of upwards 40 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that's "unheard of" in the area during winter months, according to ABC News meteorologist Melissa Griffin. It’s usually minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit there at this time of year.

The storm system drawing warm air to the North Pole is the same one that caused recent tornadoes in Texas, winter weather in the Midwest and heavy rain and flooding in the Mid- and Southeast, Griffin said.

Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a report concluding the Arctic is warming twice as fast as other parts of the planet.