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Polar Vortex Disrupted as Early Stratospheric Warming Sets Stage for December Cold

Meteorologists caution that impacts develop slowly and remain uncertain despite signs of a high‑altitude disturbance.

Overview

  • Forecasters, including Ben Noll, expect a sudden stratospheric warming between late November and early December that could favor repeated Arctic air intrusions.
  • Germany is already seeing early cold signals with snow reported in Lower Saxony and persistent frost in mountain regions.
  • NOAA’s Amy Butler anticipates below‑average temperatures in parts of Europe, while multiple cold bursts are projected to reach the northern United States.
  • The Deutscher Wetterdienst explains that the event can reverse stratospheric winds and weaken the polar vortex, with surface effects typically lagging by weeks.
  • Meteorologist Tobias Reinartz notes Atlantic storm tracks are disrupted, muting the usual wet, stormy November pattern, and experts say the influence may extend into December or longer.