In 2014, the phrase “polar vortex” gained widespread attention in Canada and the U.S. as temperatures dropped significantly. Some areas experienced temperatures colder than those on Mars. Now, experts predict that parts of Western and Central Canada will soon feel the impact of this weather phenomenon, with the possibility of it moving towards Eastern Canada.
Judah Cohen, a climatologist at MIT, noted that the latest European model suggests a notable cold pattern forming. The cold weather is expected to move east of the Rockies, affecting cities like Calgary and Winnipeg. While the term “polar vortex” became popular about a decade ago, it is a recurring atmospheric feature typically located in the stratosphere. During winter, it can destabilize and shift southward, bringing frigid air to lower latitudes by interacting with the jet stream in the troposphere.
Michael Sigmond, a research scientist at ECCC, explained that disruptions in the polar vortex occur approximately every two years, leading to significant warming and changes in wind patterns. There are different types of polar vortex events, such as sudden stratospheric warming, which can cause the vortex to shift southward.
Experts are uncertain about the specific type of polar vortex event that may occur, but some suggest it could be a sudden stratospheric warming event, potentially setting a record for its early arrival. Regardless of the classification, the impact is expected to result in cold conditions across affected regions.
As the polar vortex affects Western and Central Canada, the question remains whether it will move directly south or eastward. The exact trajectory of the cold air mass remains a key point of interest among meteorologists.