meanwhile, up in the arctic

[ljgeoff]

A sudden stratospheric warming has caused the polar vortex to collapse, sending a mass of cold air over the mid-latitudes.

Just like this time last year, 2026 is today lowest extent in the 47-8 year satellite record with volume also around record lows and temperatures remaining high. If it chases 2025's trajectory toward another record low maximum I guess that might indicate a possible structural shift in the freezing season in that winter 'recovery' may be weakening for the long term with a potential new baseline for the winter freeze? I guess we'll know the decadal trend for certain in another 0.5–1 decades.

Zeug Gezeugt, (pseudonym), Arctic Ice Forum