The image below shows a typical example of the Polar Vortex at around 30km altitude (10mb level) in the middle stratosphere.
We produced a high-resolution video for you below, which very nicely shows the Polar Vortex spinning over the Northern Hemisphere.
Video shows the 10mb level (30km altitude) potential vorticity parameter, which overly simplified means, that it shows the energy of the polar vortex.
As a general reference, we usually look at the polar vortex in the stratosphere at the 10mb level.
This is considered to be around the middle stratosphere, and thus a good representation of the general dynamics of the polar vortex.
The strength of the polar vortex is most often measured by the power of the winds inside it.
Such cold weather is never a guarantee with any Polar Vortex collapse event, and this year, it is no different. »