The polar vortex could bring a "severe winter time" to the United States - here when

The polar vortex has already acted "squirrely", say the experts.


In January, delivered a eccentric time, with storms and fluctuating temperatures letting us guess with the forecasts every week. After a frost Arctic explosion , a large part of the United States soon obtains a little stay with hotter days in front. But we are for another raw awakening Polar vortex , which could potentially introduce a "serious winter time". Read the rest to find out when temperatures could fall again.

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What is the "polar vortex"?

snowy conditions
Losgala / Shutterstock

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the polar vortex "is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding The two centers of the earth . "The" vortex "refers to the air flow in the anti -thoring sense which maintains the colder air near the poles, but during the winter, the vortex can be disturbed and send cold air to the northern hemisphere , causing "large epidemics of the Arctic Air."

The NWS notes that all cold times do not come from the polar vortex, and the motif of wind itself is not a danger. However, we must know how far temperatures drop when this happens, especially in areas that are generally not so cold. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

It is not uncommon for the circumstances to weaken the vortex, also distorting the jet stream and leading to a cold air epidemic. But now experts say that there has been an unusual activity with the stratospheric polar vortex.

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There was a minor disturbance of the polar vortex.

A thermometer showing freezing temperatures and falling snow in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Blurred snow background for good copy space image right. Close up.
istock

In a blog On Climate.Gov, the experts explained that there was a minor disturbance of the stratospheric polar vortex which slowed down the spin. It was not major enough to change the direction in which the vortex was running (needles of a watch in the hourly direction), but there was an unusual disturbance on the lower levels of the stratosphere. It could have contributed to the cold air that hit the United States last week.

"It seems that the warming of the minor [vortex] during the first week of January and the subsequent destruction of the polar vortex in the lower stratosphere were sufficient to at least help prepare the ground for the cold air epidemic on the 'North America last weekend, "Climate.gov wrote.

But in the future, this disturbance in the lower levels of the stratosphere could possibly cause a disturbance of the winds above, and therefore bring more freezing in the United States

In relation: How "extreme" thunderstorms and wind increase and affect where you live .

The weather effects will not be immediate.

icicles on a pipe
Shutterstock / Nazarova Mariaia

According to the Climate.Gov blog, we will have to wait and see exactly how disturbance will affect us in the coming weeks.

A collapse of the polar vortex takes time - and it would not immediately affect the weather Here in the United States, The Washington Post reports. On the other hand, the experts of Climate.gov note in the blog post that the rupture of the vortex itself should be brief, and he "will then cease his shenanigans and will strengthen normal speed".

As Brad Pugh , a forecaster in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) Climate Prediction Center, said Wapo , "The [disturbance] should be short -lived (a few days) and the winds [in the vortex] will strengthen again towards the end of January."

We can see changing weather conditions next month.

Public service worker or citizen shoveling snow during heavy winter blizzard
istock

We know that softer temperatures are in store for next week, followed by a more cloudy forecast, by Wapo .

However, Climate.Gov says there is a "slightly more" risk of colder air outbreaks - and if we will see more winter time following the polar vortex, it is likely to settle the month next.

As Judah Cohen , atmospheric scientist and specialist in long -range weather forecasts during atmospheric and environmental research, told Wapo , if the vortex ends up expanding, "we get more violent winter episodes" in February. If he ends up staying "strong and circular", next month will remain sweet.

Climate.gov also notes that although the polar vortex can help promote another cold spell, other variables are at stake. El Niño Can affect a cold air epidemic, as is the location of the Jet Stream in winter. The blog post notes that the jet stream can push itself, instead of being strictly moved by "climatic processes in the tropics or the stratosphere".

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Categories: Smarter Living
Tags: News / / winter
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