Cold wave coming due to extreme warming of stratosphere? Martijn Peters explains | Weather news

In the stratosphere, one of the upper air layers of the atmosphere, an exceptional weather phenomenon occurs. The temperature of that stratosphere has risen by no less than 70 degrees in the past month. Normally the temperature is around -80 degrees Celsius, nowadays between -20 and -10 degrees. According to scientists, this is a “sudden stratospheric warming”, in which the temperature high above the North Pole rises enormously. The vortex above the North Pole, which normally traps cold air, is weakening as temperatures rise. This may allow icy air to escape and blow south. If that cold air comes our way, it could have a huge impact on our weather in the coming weeks, resulting in extreme winter pricks.