Image caption
Observed and forecasted (NOAA GEFSv12) wind speed at the 10-hPa pressure level and the 60-degrees North latitude circle. The forecast is initialized on 19 Feb 2025. The polar stratospheric winds have gone up and down over the last few months but have stayed consistently stronger than average. The wind are forecast to strengthen further this week, before the winds weaken again into March. During March there is large variability from one ensemble member to another in terms of what will happen with the polar vortex. NOAA Climate.gov image, adapted from original by Laura Ciasto.