A record-early split of the polar vortex on November 10 is being linked to a Canada-wide winter forecast that includes above-normal temperatures, at least through early winter.
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The polar vortex—a belt of strong winds high in the atmosphere that helps hold Arctic cold in place—split on November 10, marking an earliest-recorded complete reversal.
The change comes as the weather pattern known as “super” El Niño remains influential, with forecasters noting a potential tug-of-war between the polar vortex’s cold air and El Niño’s generally warmer influence.
The Weather Network says that when major disruptions occur in the polar vortex, their effects can work downward through the atmosphere, including shifting the jet stream, enhancing blocking patterns, and allowing Arctic air to move farther south.
That same source says the changes could create a “ripple effect” around the Northern Hemisphere that unfolds for weeks after a major warming.
Despite the uncertainty, forecasters are expecting an unusually warm winter, including above-normal temperatures across practically the entire country from now through December and into the beginning of winter.
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