SUDDEN STRATOSPHERIC WARMING EVENT UNDERWAY; CHRISTCHURCH SUFFERS CHILLY LOWS AND RECORD-WET FEB; + MIDWEST AND NORTHEAST’S WINTER TO EXTEND INTO MARCH
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 CAP ALLON
SUDDEN STRATOSPHERIC WARMING EVENT UNDERWAY
The GFS and its ensembles are forecasting a reduction in westerly zonal winds over the North Pole as we enter March.
The higher latitudes have experienced consistently strong zonal winds to date, and, as a result, below-average temperatures have prevailed at the North Pole, which helped drive Arctic sea ice to its largest extent since 2008, and before that 2004.
A strong Polar Vortex means a strong polar circulation, which usually keeps cold air locked up in the Arctic, and, in turn, results in milder winter conditions for the United States and Europe. Conversely, a weak (wavy) Polar Vortex has a much harder time containing the Arctic’s cold air, and often funnels it south into the lower latitudes.
weather-forecast-north-hemisphere-what-is-strong-weak-polar-vortex-winter-pattern-update
The strength of the polar vortex is most often measured by the power of the winds that it produces. This is typically done by measuring the zonal (west to east) wind speeds around the polar circle (60°N latitude).
https://electroverse.net/ssw-underway-christchurch-cold-and-wet-feb-midwest-and-ne-winter-to-extend-into-march/
