Is Switzerland really going to have the "winter of the century"?

Weather forecaster MeteoSwiss has commented on the swirling speculation that Switzerland will face the “winter of the century” due to a rare weather phenomenon in the Arctic. 

Polar vortex could impact Switzerland’s winter weather

Switzerland has undoubtedly seen a change in the weather throughout November. The recent snow has prompted many to consider what kind of winter Switzerland could experience in the coming months.

Reports have emerged that a weather phenomenon known as a polar vortex could bring a particularly cold and harsh winter. The weakening of a polar vortex, where cold air gets trapped over the Arctic, means that “temperatures in the stratosphere, the layer of air at an altitude of approximately 10 to 50 kilometres, can rise by up to 50 degrees celsius within just a few days,” according to Watson.

If this happens, the phenomenon can affect the polar jet stream, a current of winds in the Northern Hemisphere, potentially leading to cold, harsh winter conditions spreading across Europe and other parts of the world.

Will Switzerland face the “winter of the century”?

MeteoSwiss has confirmed that the polar vortex over the Arctic is weakening, an event that has only taken place this early in winter three times over the past 70 years. However, the prediction that this could lead to the "winter of the century" is "premature", reports Watson. Forecasts that predict months rather than weeks ahead can often be uncertain.

The potential impact that the weakening of the polar vortex could have on Switzerland is “unclear” and at the moment, the “seasonal outlook remained unchanged”.  This means that Switzerland is, for now at least, still expecting a winter that is no colder or snowier than usual.