Polar Vortex [wandering] to bring prolonged cold to North America and Europe

[John Nissen]

Hi Peter and Doug,

In my last presentation for AGU, 2023 or 2024, I explained this wandering was due to Arctic Amplification. At times the pole is warmer than the surrounding region and the polar jet stream wave meanders in great loops, taking cold air to the south and warm air to the north. The wave is liable to get stuck in blocking patterns as seems to be the case at present. One then gets extremes of cold weather to the south and extremes of warm weather to the north.  The cold weather is stuck over the UK!  I don't find the explanation given here is satisfactory [1].

Cheers and seasonal greetings

John

[1] Brace for a chilly start to 2026: Polar Vortex split to bring prolonged cold to North America and Europe » Severe Weather Europe https://share.google/doiYEb65oTZreo59m