Britain braced for temperatures to plummet with weakened polar vortex set to bring snow

Britain braced for temperatures to plummet with weakened polar vortex set to bring snow Disruptions to the polar vortex could result in Britain being battered with snow much earlier in the season as trapped frigid air above the Arctic makes its way further south A weakening of the polar vortex could see temperatures plummet in Britain over the coming weeks, potentially bringing snow and frost far earlier than is usually expected at this time of year. The high winds above the Arctic typically circle the North Pole and trap some of the coldest air on Earth, but they have weakened in recent days. Strong winds trap the coldest air close to the pole, though its weakening means chilly conditions can slip further south. While the disruptions can be observed during the winter months, it is unprecedented in modern times that it should happen early in November. Its weakening this early in the season could result in current forecasts being thrown into disarray amid greater uncertainty about the impact it could have on the UK. The weakening of the polar vortex can, in turn, alter the path of the jet stream, which usually protects Europe from much colder conditions that should be expected due to its northerly position on the globe. It could also increase the possibility of snow, particularly in eastern Britain. Sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) typically happens from the mid-winter, but the sudden weakening shows there could be a reversal of the polar winds as early as mid-November. Already, the weakening has disrupted the strong polar vortex, creating two circulations and pushing colder air further south. The earliest SSW event was recorded on November 28, 1969, and in 2025. "It would appear to be the earliest on record looking back over the 75 years we've been observing…with most experts agreeing this is a very unusual event," lead climate scientist from the Met Office, Jeff Knight, told the BBC. The conditions are not unusual toward the end of winter in so-called normal El Niño years, as warmer air in the Pacific can lead to weather patterns being disrupted around the globe. But the current record El Niño has sparked unusual weather events much earlier in the year than normal. There is a risk that Britain could be plunged into a deep freeze toward the end of the month. The Met Office said in its long-range forecast for between November 20 and December 4: "Towards the end of November, whilst confidence is very low in the overall weather patterns, there may be a tendency for the tracks of Atlantic lows to shift farther south. "Temperatures are likely to be near or above average for much of the period, although colder interludes remain possible, perhaps more especially later in the period." The Mirror has contacted the Met Office for comment.