An expected collapse of the polar vortex brings severe cold waves to North America and Canada despite the arrival of spring.

Arab Weather - Meteorologists at the Arab Weather Regional Center are monitoring the consequences of the sudden warming in the Arctic Circle and the resulting formation of a high-pressure area. This has caused the collapse of the polar vortex and the dispersion of polar air masses, resulting in severe cold weather conditions in the United States and Canada coinciding with the vernal equinox, which are expected to continue in the coming period, God willing.

What is a polar vortex collapse?

A polar vortex collapse occurs when the temperature of the layer between 10 and 50 km above Earth's surface increases by 50 degrees in just two days. This event is called a sudden stratigraphic warming (SSW). This warming can weaken the polar vortex, causing cold polar air to move southward and lead to severe weather.

This weather phenomenon occurs in mid-March, bringing extremely cold temperatures to parts of Canada and the United States. It is also likely to affect the United Kingdom and Europe.

How does the collapse of the polar vortex affect weather in the Northern Hemisphere?

Stratospheric warming affects the polar vortex, altering polar air distribution patterns and directly impacting jet streams and weather patterns across the Northern Hemisphere. The high pressure system resulting from this warming is expected to disperse polar air masses.

The collapse of the polar vortex is expected to continue the extreme cold in North America and Canada. If the polar jet stream is disrupted, parts of the United States and Canada could see temperatures drop to around minus 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, despite the arrival of spring with widespread snowfall, disrupting daily life and travel.

Meanwhile, severe cold waves are expected to hit northern Europe, including the United Kingdom, bringing bitterly cold weather to those regions, with snowfall in several areas, particularly Scandinavia. Atlantic storms are also expected to continue their strong activity over the coming period, occasionally reaching western Europe and causing severe weather disruptions.

The expected collapse of the polar vortex will be the second of its kind in 2025.

Global weather websites said the expected collapse of the polar vortex would be the second of its kind in 2025, following last month's collapse, which caused severe freezing temperatures and travel disruption across North America.

Blizzards and extreme cold weather affected millions of Americans and much of the country last February. If the upcoming polar vortex disturbances weaken the jet stream, this could allow cold air from the polar regions to move into North America or Eurasia.

And God knows best.