Possible Clues:

• ___ bear plunge (winter event)
• Like the climate where Santa lives
• Half of police are finishing early, freezing cold
• Cheapo larch houses extremely cold
• Word before 'bear' or 'vortex'
• __ bear (Arctic mammal)
• Word before 'vortex' or 'Express'
• Word before 'bear' or 'ice cap'
• Like Admiral Byrd's expeditions
• Leaders of parties on left and right, as different as can be