Erik Zarnitz explains why it will be so cold this week
Stratospheric warming is to blame
Bitter cold Arctic air will be moving into the tri-state this week. News 5 Meteorologist Erik Zarnitz explains why it will be so cold.
Ninety-nine percent of the weather happens in the lower levels of the atmosphere, Erik said.
“However, the Stratosphere is what's been taking the stage over the last few days. A phenomenon called stratospheric warming is taking place right over the poles. What this does is cause the stratosphere to expand, putting pressure on the lower levels. When this happens at the poles it causes this layer of cold air to get squeezed, pressing the cold air farther south meaning places like Cincinnati places in central Russia get much more cold air than what you would normally see for this time of year because that cold air has been displaced from the north pole,” Erik explained.
Over the next few days, the coldest air that is normally around the poles will be pushed southward.
Erik said the stratospheric warming could cause some cities to experience the coldest temperatures they’ve seen in years.
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