The upper-level cut-off cold vortex is an important part of the atmospheric circulation in the middle and high latitudes, and usually can lead to the convective instability as well as the occurrence and development of various high impact weather. The most common cut-off cold vortex in China is the northeast cold vortex, which can not only affect the weather and climate anomalies in the northeastern China, but also have a profound impact on the central and eastern China. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the formation mechanism and prediction theory of cut-off cold vortex. Based on this, this paper reviews the main research progress in the formation mechanism and prediction methods of upper-level cut-off cold vortex in recent years. Firstly, the definition of cut-off cold vortex and its weather and climate characteristics are summarized. Secondly, the impacts of different weather and climate systems as well as the external forcing factors on the cut-off cold vortex are reviewed. Finally, the gaps and unsolved problems in the previous researches are pointed out.