The Phenomenon of the Polar Vortex. The Cause of the Unleashed Fury in Latvia Named 0 12

In February 2026, meteorologists recorded an event known as the splitting of the stratospheric polar vortex. This vortex (or cell) is a massive mass of cold air rotating at an altitude of 10 to 50 kilometers above the Arctic. Typically, it "locks" the cold at the pole, but due to climate warming, it increasingly loses stability, breaking apart into fragments.

This time, one of these icy fragments shifted towards Eurasia at the end of winter. The interaction of the weakened vortex with a powerful blocking anticyclone over the Atlantic (known as the Omega block) opened a direct corridor for the invasion of Arctic air into the center of the continent.

"The winter destruction of the polar vortex continues to affect the weather. The vortex itself has already broken apart, but the mechanisms it triggered in the troposphere ensure a flow of cold air," experts from Severe Weather Europe — a meteorological service that forecasts and analyzes extreme weather events in Europe — explain in their analytical materials.

The weakened polar vortex contributes to the formation of a stable blocking anticyclone, which "locks" the cold over Europe for an extended period. This is the scientific explanation for the weather anomalies we are currently observing. That is why even at the end of April, we are witnessing what we are witnessing.

When to Expect Changes?

According to preliminary calculations, warming in Latvia will not begin until at least May 1.

By Friday, warmer air will start to flow in, and daytime temperatures will return to +12…+14 °C. However, meteorologists emphasize that even with the beginning of May, temperatures will remain below the climatic norm. Due to high humidity levels and strong winds, the perceived weather will feel even colder than the actual temperatures.

Experts recommend that drivers not rush to change winter tires to summer ones, and that gardeners take measures to protect heat-loving plants from nighttime frosts.

Climatologists warn that the effects of the destruction of the polar vortex may persist until June, so the upcoming weather "swings" are a long-term trend that one should be prepared for.