Currently, a significant and rare shift in the polar vortex is occurring in February 2026, causing extreme winter conditions in the US, Europe and Canada.
The “exceptional” and unprecedented disruption is caused by a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW), which has increased temperatures 30 km above the Arctic by more than 50°C.
This “extreme” shift is currently causing brutally cold conditions across North America and is expected to change global weather patterns for the rest of the month.
What is polar vortex?
The polar vortex acts as a large-scale wind fence at high altitudes over the Northern Hemisphere. It is responsible for trapping frigid Arctic air at the North Pole.
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The polar vortex acts as a wall of wind and starts from the surface and extends into the stratosphere. So it is not a mistake to say that it consists of two layers.
The first includes the stratosphere at high altitudes and the second consists of the troposphere closer to the surface. Because they are connected, both layers help trap cold air near the poles. If the polar vortex remains intact, the US and much of Europe will experience mild winter conditions.
But when the fence breaks or becomes disrupted due to a warming of the stratosphere, the cold air flows south, leading to harsh weather and winter storms.
Polar vortex split prediction
What exactly happens to the polar vortex is quite worrying. According to the recent analysis at the 10 mb level in the middle of the stratosphere, the experts have witnessed a distorted vortex. The vortex has actually split into two cores, with a primary lobe currently centered over North America.
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This disruptive pattern will push the cold Arctic air mass toward the United States. According to The spokesperson review, More than 100 million people in the US and Canada have been warned. Major cities like Boston, New York and Detroit are seeing wind chill levels drop to -30°F.
As reported by Futura, The central and eastern states of the US will experience significant winter storms. Florida and Southwest would largely be spared. The northern regions of Europe are expected to experience colder airflows, while the western and southern regions will remain mild.
Moreover, the strengthening of Arctic warming may also be a reason for polar vortex disruption, along with the climate change paradox.
