Polar Vortex 2024: When the Arctic Blast Invaded Winter

The polar vortex in 2024 has been very active, resulting in multiple extreme cold weather events across North America and Europe.

Early Warning Signs:

• Stratospheric Warming: A major stratospheric warming event took place between late December 2023 and early January 2024. This phenomena interrupts the polar vortex, increasing the likelihood of splitting or weakening, potentially resulting in colder-than-average temperatures at lower latitudes.
• Shifting and Elongation: The polar vortex has been observed to be shifting and elongating, sometimes even splitting into two lobes. This instability further increases the chance of cold air outbreaks.

Cold Weather Events:

• Mid-January Arctic Blast: In mid-January 2024, a severe Arctic blast raced throughout North America, causing dangerously low temperatures and wind chills in many areas. Millions of individuals were affected by power outages, travel disruptions, and unsafe driving conditions.
• Continued Cold Snaps: Throughout January and February 2024, several other cold snaps occurred, bringing below-average temperatures to parts of North America and Europe. These events caused additional disruptions and highlighted the ongoing impact of the unstable polar vortex.

Impacts:

• Public Health: The extreme cold weather events have led to health risks such as hypothermia, frostbite, and respiratory illnesses.
• Infrastructure: Power outages and damage to infrastructure have been reported in some areas, causing disruptions to daily life.
• Agriculture: Early-season crops and livestock can be vulnerable to damage from extreme cold, potentially impacting agricultural yields.

Current Situation:

• • As of January 14, 2024, the polar vortex remains somewhat unstable and elongated. However, long-range forecasts suggest that it may gradually strengthen and return to a more normal position in the coming weeks.
  • Despite the potential for improvement, the recent events serve as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with a weakened or disrupted polar vortex.

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:

• NOAA Climate.gov: https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/polar-vortex/cooking-stratospheric-polar-vortex-disruption
• Severe Weather Europe: https://www.severe-weather.eu/global-weather/winter-season-2022-2023-polar-vortex-power-up-stratospheric-warming-wave-forecast-united-states-europe-fa/
• The Guardian: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/winter-finally-show-january-el-122154049.html