Next week’s expected Arctic chill might signal a tough winter ahead for the eastern United States. It appears that several significant weather patterns are aligning, which could lead to early severe cold and increased snowfall in the area.
Two weather phenomena, La Niña and the easterly Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), are likely contributing to the influx of Arctic air, typically confined above the North Pole, pushing it down to the eastern U.S. from the south, as mentioned by the FOX Prediction Center.
This frigid air is part of what’s known as the “polar vortex.”
The polar vortex is situated in the stratosphere, around 10 to 30 miles above the Earth’s poles. During winter, it tends to strengthen as the sunlight diminishes, causing temperatures at that elevation to plummet below -70 degrees Celsius.
Usually, the polar vortex stays locked over the Arctic and northern Canada, separated from the warmer air below that creates our everyday weather.
While the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) usually dominates weather patterns, the QBO is anticipated to have a significant influence early this winter.
The QBO indicates the wind directions in the stratosphere around the equator, impacting the strength of the polar vortex.
Currently, the QBO is in its eastern phase, which weakens the polar vortex’s boundary, enabling frigid air to seep into the lower atmosphere.
In contrast, La Niña typically causes a dip in the Pacific jet stream, allowing Cold Canadian air to sweep southward into the eastern U.S.
The FOX Prediction Center has noted that winters featuring both La Niña and an Eastern QBO have historically been much colder than average.
Yukimuro?
It’s hard to nail down the specific frequency and severity of snowstorms, but colder air often transforms potential rain into snow across the country.
Generally, La Niña enhances winter snowstorms for northern states, while the southern regions tend to remain warm and dry.
Consequently, meteorologists believe areas like the Great Lakes, the Upper Midwest, the Northeast, and New England will likely experience above-average snow this December.
On a different note, any coastal storms that develop in an Arctic environment could bring significant snowfall.
Even though the exact paths of future storms remain unpredictable, forecasters seem increasingly certain that many people in the East will be reaching for hot beverages this winter.
