WEATHER

When the North Gets a Chill: The Stratosphere's Role in US Winter Woes

USASat Jul 12 2025

The US has been experiencing serious cold snaps lately, even as winters warm up overall. Scientists have uncovered interesting connections to the stratosphere, the layer of the atmosphere above where planes fly.

Key Patterns Identified

  1. Displaced Upper-Level Vortex Over Western Canada

    • Brings harsh winter conditions to the northwestern US.
  2. Weakened Upper-Level Vortex Shifting Toward the North Atlantic

    • Leads to severe winter weather in the central and eastern US.

Common Traits

  • Stretched lower-level vortex
  • Stratospheric wave reflection

Shift in Winter Weather Events

  • Since 2015, severe winter weather events have been moving northwestward across the US.
  • This shift coincides with:
  • A rise in the frequency of the westward-focused pattern.
  • A change in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phases.

Driving Factors

  • A complex mix of stratospheric shifts and ocean patterns.
  • Understanding these connections can improve winter weather predictions and better prepare for extreme cold events.

questions

    If the stratospheric polar vortex is like a diva, does it throw tantrums that cause extreme cold in the US?
    How do the recent changes in stratospheric variations impact the overall winter warming trends in the continental US?
    Are there secret experiments or technologies that could be artificially weakening the stratospheric polar vortex?

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