A polar vortex collapse is expected to occur in mid-March, bringing severe winter weather and major travel disruptions across North America.
While its primary effects will be felt in the United States and Canada, meteorologists warn that the extreme cold could also extend to the UK and Europe, raising concerns about significant weather impacts across the region.
The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and frigid air that swirls around the Earth’s poles, playing a crucial role in winter weather patterns. This system is closely linked to the jet stream, a fast-moving band of winds that flows between 8 and 11 kilometres above the Earth’s surface.
When the polar vortex weakens, it disrupts the stability of the jet stream, allowing Arctic air to surge southward. This sudden shift can trigger extreme cold, heavy snowfall, and widespread weather disruptions in areas that are not typically exposed to such harsh conditions.
A polar vortex collapse happens when stratospheric temperatures—between 10 and 50 kilometres above the Earth’s surface—rise sharply by up to 50 degrees within 48 hours. This process, known as sudden stratospheric warming (SSW), weakens the vortex and allows frigid Arctic air to spill southward. As a result, regions that usually experience milder winters, including the UK, may face an abrupt shift to colder and more severe weather.
While February already saw widespread snow, storms, and below-freezing temperatures across parts of the UK, another disruption to the polar vortex could intensify winter conditions. If the weakening vortex slows down the jet stream, it could allow Arctic air to push further south into Europe, increasing the likelihood of cold snaps and snowfall.
Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather’s Lead Meteorologist, told The Independent, “We are predicting a displacement of the polar vortex on the Europe and eastern Canada side of the polar.”
He explained that while the impact on North America remains uncertain, “The timing is uncertain for North America but could see a change in the pattern for late March into early April.”
With this upcoming collapse expected to be more intense than the previous one, the UK may experience a prolonged period of cold weather, with an increased risk of snow and travel disruptions as Arctic air moves in.
(TOI)
and then