Unusual Air Flows to Blame for Current Weather Chaos - WMO

(HN, December 21, 2010) - The current extreme weather conditions bringing travel chaos to Western Europe and elsewhere are meteorologically linked to large disturbances that affect air pressure and wind regimes in the northern hemisphere during end of the autumn and winter.Severe weather has caused travel chaos throughout Western Europe

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says the air flow is usually west to east, which brings milder conditions with it. But atmospheric blocking patterns are currently preventing this. Instead, the airflow is more in the north-south direction. The pattern is similar to what happened in last year’s northern hemisphere winter, and it is unusual to witness the same phenomenon for two consecutive years, Clare Nullis of the WMO told a media briefing in Geneva today, monitored by HUMNEWS.

She said parts of Western Europe and the Eastern United States are currently witnessing a second cold spell after the first one in mid to late November. At the same time, conditions are warmer than average over the Polar Regions, including the Arctic.

Unusually cold temperatures and heavy snowfall has brought travel chaos to Western Europe - in many cases forcing the closure of large hubs like London Heathrow and the cancellation of thousands of flights. The knock-on impact of the cancellations is being felt around the globe.

The good news is that some relief is expected in the intensity of the conditions through the end of December and beginning of January. But cold spells could always happen during the winter from time to time and in many places in the Northern Hemisphere. Currently it is still too early to say that the long-persisting extreme conditions of last winter will be repeated. 

The WMO says it will monitor the situation during the remainder of the winter.

Also today, a European Union spokesperson says it may set down "minimum standards of service" for airports in the EU after tens of thousands of passengers experienced "unacceptable" disruptions.

- HUMNEWS staff, WMO