Stratospheric winds can warn of extreme energy demand in Europe

Stratospheric winds can warn of extreme energy demand in Europe. A breakdown of normal polar winds in winter raises the chance of extreme cold—and a resulting spike in energy demand—in Europe, new research shows. Normally, strong and stable westerly winds circle high above the Arctic in the winter, in what is known as the "stratospheric polar vortex." Disruptions to this pattern can have significant implications for energy demand and infrastructure.