A Major Sudden Stratospheric Warming began around the 04 January. During the winter months, the stratosphere is extremely cold over the north pole. This sets up the Polar Vortex a strong westerly wind in the stratosphere which drives our winter weather giving us our usual strong westerly flow of winter weather.
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| https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/tcc/tcc/products/clisys/STRAT/index.html |
The SSW has resulted in the reversal of the Polar Vortex from westerly to easterly. This may or may not eventually have an effect lower down in the atmosphere and bring a change to our weather.
There's a better explanation of the nature of a SSW here.
Back on earth, our forecast is for the temperatures to gradually lift over the next few days to around average for January. We'll have to wait and see if that SSW brings a change to our weather.
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Thanks for running this up the pole. We've just had easterly winds and cold temperatures for two weeks in Edinburgh so I am not cheered to think they will be returning. We shall see.
ReplyDeleteThose in the know are suggesting there’s going to be another SSW in late January. Last year’s SSW had no effect on our weather at all. Wonder what the chances are of three in a row having no effect.
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