Weather forecasts influence decisions every single day. They guide aviation routes, protect infrastructure, support agriculture, optimise renewable energy production and help individuals plan their routines. Behind every temperature value, rainfall icon or wind warning stands a sophisticated scientific system: the numerical weather model.

On a calm winter evening, the contrast between city and countryside can be striking. Frost may cover open fields while snow settles over rural landscapes, yet the city centre stays a few degrees warmer. Streets turn wet instead of white, and freezing rain replaces snow. These differences are not random – they are shaped by the urban climate.

Climate change is not unfolding evenly across the globe. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Arctic, which is warming far more rapidly than any other region on Earth. This phenomenon, known as the Arctic amplification, has become one of the most striking and consequential indicators of modern climate change.

Why do some winter cold spells last for weeks instead of days? Learn how large-scale atmospheric patterns trap cold air, suppress weather changes, and contribute to long-lasting winter conditions.

On a cold winter day, the number shown on a thermometer rarely tells the full story. Add wind to low temperatures, and conditions can feel significantly colder – sometimes dangerously so. This effect is known as wind chill, and it plays an important role in how the human body experiences cold weather.

High above our heads, at roughly the cruising altitude of commercial aircraft, a powerful river of air is constantly shaping the weather we experience at the surface. This river is known as the jet stream, and during winter it plays a particularly important role in determining whether we see storms, frost, or prolonged calm.

The polar vortex significantly influences winter weather across the Northern Hemisphere. When it is strong, winters are milder and wetter, but when it weakens or shifts, it can bring cold snaps and heavy snow. Studying the vortex helps meteorologists predict these changes and better forecast seasonal weather.

Climate change is affecting vineyards, making some traditional wine regions too warm and opening new areas in the north for grape growing. The Huglin Index allows winemakers to plan which grapes are the most suitable for their region today and in decades to come.

La Niña conditions are developing again and are expected to influence the coming winter, with weather impacts varying across different regions.

Satellites have transformed how we monitor our planet, especially when it comes to extreme weather. From hurricanes and typhoons to floods and wildfires, modern weather satellites can track storm evolution in real time and help assess damage after a disaster has passed.