Even if it is still a bit early to tell, a phenomenon of polar vortex collapse has been observed and could cause a significant drop in temperatures if the latter moved towards Europe.
After an exceptional mildness between Christmas and New Year’s Day, temperatures have since dropped. But the threat of a big cold wave could hit France in the next few days, starting in February. And it would be due to the collapse of the polar vortex.
What is the Polar Vortex?
The polar vortex is a depression that forms each winter above the north and south poles. This cold pocket intensifies in winter because sunlight no longer reaches high latitudes during the polar night, as La Chaîne Météo reports.
But this vortex can deform, move, collapse and as a result of which it causes descents of very significant and very sudden cold waves which thus fall on the more temperate zones of the planet such as Europe. and therefore France, as Futura points out.
A stall detected
However, in recent days, a weakening of the polar vortex has been observed by several weather forecasting models. This vortex stall could head towards France resulting in a serious freezing cold snap.
What is the scale of the phenomenon?
This collapse of the polar vortex should be powerful enough to cause a significant drop in temperatures throughout France, starting in late January or during February. When the vortex reaches its full intensity, it should generate very low temperatures of up to -10°C in certain French regions.
What are the instructions to follow?
When this cold spell arrives in France, the inhabitants of the regions affected by this climatic event will be strongly advised to adapt their behavior in order to ensure their protection against the risks associated with frost and snow. In particular, care should be taken to keep your accommodation heated to a minimum temperature (19°C) and to limit your outdoor outings during this particularly harsh winter period.
How to protect your house?
To prevent the risks associated with frost and snow during this unexpected cold snap, owners or tenants of accommodation affected by this particular metrological phenomenon are advised to carry out some simple but essential work before the temperatures drop too low. These mainly consist of checking the joints around exterior joinery or insulating doors and windows.
What are the expected impacts?
This cold spell should generate significant impacts on certain agricultural activities such as the pruning of fruit trees, which will have to be pushed back due to the intense frost that will occur during this exceptionally cold winter period. In addition, it could cause technical problems on certain essential components such as pumps or valves which will be exposed to frost and whose correct operation will remain compromised throughout the duration of the metrological phenomenon.
Conclusion: faced with an uncertain polar vortex, stay vigilant!
It therefore seems clear that the imminent arrival of a threatening polar vortex is a source of concern for many French inhabitants who fear its cold power capable of causing devastating effects for certain human activities as well as for certain materials sensitive to climatic conditions. extremes. In this uncertain context, it is therefore appropriate for those affected by this unusual metrological phenomenon to remain vigilant and adaptable in order to ensure their own protection against the announced freezing frost.
