Scientists observed a minor warming of the Arctic Polar stratosphere in the first half of February but temperatures have since decreased back to levels that permit the existence of polar stratospheric clouds (PSC). The Polar vortex also extended far southward, moving above large parts of Europe again, giving lots of stations the opportunity to measure vortex air where considerable ozone losses occurred. The below figure shows temperature forecasts at the 450K level, indicating a tendency for temperature increases but thereafter a further decrease.

The 2015/2016-Northern Hemisphere winter continues to be scientifically fascinating!