A major disturbance in the Arctic polar vortex is poised to trigger a prolonged period of severe winter weather in parts of North America and Europe in the coming weeks, forecasters warn.
The polar vortex, a region of low-pressure cold air above the Arctic Circle, is expected to completely collapse due to the effects of the dramatic “sudden stratospheric warming” event that occurred in early February.
Sudden stratospheric warming occurs when the temperature in the stratosphere is significantly high.
In the United States, more than 177 million people from the Northeast to the Mid-Atlantic have been affected due to this pattern.
The alteration in the vortex structure allows the jet stream to become more wavy and descend further south, which tends to transport cold air masses from the Arctic region to populated areas, increasing the threat of heavy snow, ice and cold snaps.
Experts are warning of similar predictions for European regions, including the UK, saying the collapse could lead to a “prolonged release of cold air” across the continent in February.
This will potentially lead to widespread frost, snow and a sustained period of below average temperatures.
The exact timing and severity level remain uncertain for now, as ground-level meteorological details depend on complex atmospheric interactions.
