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Weak polar vortex gives hints of what to expect this winter
  • I still am of the opinion that the vortex is in the early stages of forming and will be disrupted over the next several weeks by anamolous high pressure in Alaska/Siberia (possibly shifting eastward into October). The ECMWF op analysis on this website shows the lowering absolute temp and lowering 10 mb heights in the North Pole region over the past two weeks or so. Additionally, the circular stratospheric wind pattern is slowly returning (since about 9/7) and modeled to increase in the coming weeks.

    Obviously it is not as developed as it will be later next month or as developed as the South Pole polar vortex currently is. I am curious to see how long the “heat wave” in Siberia/Alaska (and possibly the Canadian Arctic next month) lasts. I just think this pattern in the early stages of development plus La Niña foster conditions for sudden stratospheric warming events later in the season.

    Edit to add: Is it a good forecast? I think so but maybe it will be and maybe it won’t, that’s just the nature of things. I stand by it though.

  • Weak polar vortex gives hints of what to expect this winter
  • I think La Niña plays a bigger role for the whole season than this. Where I am (Vancouver, Canada), I expect below average temperatures and above average precipitation. The presence of a weak polar vortex signals a higher risk of at least one strong winter cold snap in North America, but we won’t know specifics until much further along in the season.

  • Weak polar vortex gives hints of what to expect this winter
  • The polar vortex is present already and is slowly deepening. This is clearly evident in 10 and 30 mb height and wind charts.

    Meteorological fall begins September 1. As noted, the polar vortex begins developing in August (because of the decreasing sunlight post-solstice) and isn’t full strength until later in the season. At this altitude in the poles (30 km up) thermal lag is less pronounced. Note the American Meteorological Society glossary says “the stratospheric polar vortex exists from fall to spring” (source). It is not just a winter phenomenon.

    There is some predictive value in the strength of the polar vortex, especially with regard to the jet stream and sudden stratospheric warming events, but all seasonal forecasts carry uncertainty.

    I am a meteorologist in Canada working primarily in the energy industry and have successfully used the polar vortex (among other parameters) in medium- and long-range forecasting several times. This has generally been in the context of deep troughs bringing heavy snow to Western Canada and the U.S. Northwest.

    Of course, this being the internet readers can take or leave that claim. It was especially useful in early forecasts regarding an extreme cold weather outbreak in the U.S. Northwest in February-March 2019.

  • ingallswx.com Weak polar vortex gives hints of what to expect this winter

    The term polar vortex has been thrust into the public consciousness over the last few years with media descriptions of very cold polar vortexes descending out of Canada into the Northern United Sta…

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    Rocky Mountains from downtown Calgary

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    Mount Baker rises behind Vancouver [OC]
  • July is probably the peak like the other commenter mentioned, but if you want sunshine pretty much any time between mid-June and the beginning of September is good. If you’re like me and want rainy hikes with clouds clinging to forested mountains, come in October.

  • Mount Baker rises behind Vancouver

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    Monday morning shelf cloud

    From a weak squall line in Vancouver, Canada

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    ingallswx.com Texas sets new energy demand record during strong heat wave

    Texas is in the middle of a remarkable heat wave with widespread temperatures in excess of 100°F (38°C) throughout the state. On Tuesday, this brought ERCOT (the power grid covering most of the sta…

    Texas sets new energy demand record during strong heat wave

    When the record was broken, solar was serving about 22% of load. A new record for solar energy generation in ERCOT was also set.

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    Meh burger

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    www.theguardian.com Alaska capital takes stock after worst flooding yet caused by retreating glacier

    Juneau residents clear sodden homes after lake dammed by Mendenhall Glacier gives way in what is now yearly event

    Alaska capital takes stock after worst flooding yet caused by retreating glacier

    Glacial outburst floods in Juneau, Alaska are a direct consequence of climate change. The lake that forms behind the ice dam was formerly a glaciated area itself. Now water ponds there before getting around the ice dam and flooding neighborhoods in Juneau.

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    The summit of Mount Rainier from my flight

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    If I live in a red state, would it be better to vote for rfk to take votes away from trump?
  • If you live in a red state and want Trump to not get your EC votes, your most likely path to success is voting for Biden and trying as hard as you can to convince people who don’t usually vote to also do so. Voting for RFK won’t change the tally enough.

  • www.nbcrightnow.com Homemade bee spray blowtorch lights Walla Walla house on fire

    WALLA WALLA, Wash.-Firefighters responded to a house fire on July 15 reportedly started by a homemade torch.

    Homemade bee spray blowtorch lights Walla Walla house on fire
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    British Columbia sunrise

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