A rare cold snap driven by the polar vortex has created blizzard warnings in southern Louisiana and disrupted flights in Texas. The polar vortex, a mass of cold air, usually stays contained in the Arctic but has been stretching south due to changes exacerbated by climate change. While overall cold events have decreased since the 1960s, researchers note an increase in cold air outbreaks since 2000. The instability of the polar jet stream, linked to warming in the Arctic, allows for frigid temperatures to hit regions typically accustomed to milder winters.
The polar vortex is significantly affected by climate change, which has been stretching the vortex, leading to more frequent cold air outbreaks across the U.S.
The unusual blizzard warnings in southern Louisiana illustrate how climate change can produce unexpected weather events, affecting areas typically unaccustomed to such conditions.
Although cold events have generally decreased since the 1960s, there is a notable uptick in cold air outbreaks since 2000, thus indicating a new weather pattern.
Judah Cohen emphasizes that the jet stream's increased instability due to Arctic warming is a major reason for extreme winter weather occurrences in unexpected regions.
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