European

Extreme cold weather might be heading to Europe in early December

cde.news desk 23 November 2019, 06:39 · 1 min read

epa03091410 A man stands next to an ice covered car on the iced waterside promenade at the Lake Geneva in Versoix, Switzerland, 04 February 2012. A cold spell has reached Europe with temperatures plummeting far below zero. EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI

Early December see a fresh wave of cold polar air, according to projections from the latest meteorological models.

It is caused by a sudden stratospheric warming that pushes cold air from the North Pole further south towards Europe — and could even reach parts of North Africa.

This sudden warming of the stratosphere around Siberia could also potentially destabilise the so-called polar vortex, a phenomenon that keeps cold air close to the Artctic Circle.

In the meantime, another storm travelling in from the Atlantic can be expected this weekend.

Nicknamed Cecilia, the storm is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and waves to the Cantabrian and the Mediterranean in France and Spain.