Polar vortex faltering weeks earlier than ever recorded

Detailed summary

Meteorologists said Friday they were observing an unprecedented early disruption of the polar vortex, raising the risk of cold snaps across the Northern Hemisphere, though there remains significant uncertainty.

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

eteorologists said Friday they were observing an unprecedented early disruption of the polar vortex, raising the risk of cold snaps across the Northern Hemisphere, though there remains significant uncertainty.

The polar vortex is a vast region of cold, low-pressure air that normally circulates from west to east high above the Arctic.

It generally strengthens through autumn and peaks around January. It can weaken in the second half of winter, typically between January and March, sending bitterly cold air spilling south into Europe, North America and Asia.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Jakarta Post. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.