The troposphere circulation pattern thru mid Jan (Pac High + Scandinavia trough) is very unfavorable for upward wave fluxes into the stratosphere (b/c it interferes w/ the standing planetary waves). The stratospheric polar vortex should be allowed to intensify basically at will pic.twitter.com/75AmaGHPP4

— Eric Webb (@webberweather) December 30, 2021