From Climate Central Last January: "Stratospheric Phenomenon Is Bringing Frigid Cold to U.S"

[John1956PA]

An unusual event playing out high in the atmosphere above the Arctic Circle is setting the stage for what could be weeks upon weeks of frigid cold across wide swaths of the U.S., having already helped to bring cold and snowy weather to parts of Europe.

This phenomenon, known as a “sudden stratospheric warming event,” started on Jan. 6, but is something that is just beginning to have an effect on weather patterns across North America and Europe.

While the physics behind sudden stratospheric warming events are complicated, their implications are not: such events are often harbingers of colder weather in North America and Eurasia. The ongoing event favors colder and possibly stormier weather for as long as four to eight weeks after the event, meaning that after a mild start to the winter, the rest of this month and February could bring the coldest weather of the winter season to parts of the U.S., along with a heightened chance of snow.

. . .

More at http://www.climatecentral.org/news/stratospheric-phenomenon-is-bringing-frigid-cold-to-us-15479

I am thinking that the same phenomenon is at work again this January. Here in Western Pennsylvania, it was -7 last night. The temperatures are going to be in the single digits for most days for the next week, and some nights will have temperatures dipping below zero.

[LiberalEsto]

1. brrrrrrrrr

me no like this