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File: polar-vortex-winds-graph-20240404.png

Time series of observed and forecast polar stratospheric zonal winds

Image caption

Observed and forecasted (NOAA GEFSv12) wind speed at the 10-hPa pressure level and the 60-degrees North latitude circle. The average timing of the final stratospheric warming occurs around April 12th (where thin purple line falls below 0 m/s and stays there through summer). The forecasts indicate that this year the final warming will occur later than average. NOAA Climate.gov image, adapted from original by Laura Ciasto.