Polar Vortex Clashing With El Niño—What It Means Ahead of Thanksgiving
Summary
A Sudden Stratospheric Warming event is weakening the polar vortex unusually early in the season, which could send Arctic air into parts of the United States. Forecasters expect cold weather in parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic this weekend, with another cold spell possible around Thanksgiving and into early December.Key Facts
- Sudden Stratospheric Warming occurs when the stratosphere warms quickly and can disrupt the winds that help contain Arctic air.
- The polar vortex is a large area of cold air and low pressure around Earth’s poles.
- Forecasters said the early-season disruption is unusual; such events more commonly occur in January or February.
- The cold air could bring cold, rainy weather and high-elevation snow to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic this weekend.
- Another round of weather impacts is possible over Thanksgiving weekend and into the first week of December.
- Some areas in the Northern Rockies, Montana, the Dakotas, the Midwest, and the Great Lakes region could see their first snow of the season over Thanksgiving weekend.
- Because the disruption is happening early, limited snow cover across Canada could make the resulting cold spells shorter or less intense than later-season events.
- A strengthening El Niño typically favors warmer, drier conditions across the northern United States, potentially contrasting with the forecast cold spell.
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