One might think that because the cold air isn't down here the ice would be looking healthier

[XemaSab]

Well, one might be wrong.

[jimlup]

1. Yeah I'm just short of alarmed...

But shhhh... I don't think we are allowed to have these thoughts. The media certainly never mentions it.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. I think this graph is helpful

[joshcryer]

3. It is precisely because the cold air is down here, that this is happening, imo.

The jet stream is a buffer, kind of a wall of thermal pressure to keep the Arctic cool. It's breaking, wobbling all over the place. I wish there was a good animation for the northern jet stream over the past 10-20 years.

[XemaSab]

4. Wasn't it like 65 in Detroit today?

It was 68 and beautiful here.

[joshcryer]

5. Eh, I shouldn't use Colorado as an indicator, but I'm thinking Europe.

You are correct though that in just a few days the US will be nice. That's why I said the jet stream is 'wobbly.'

I found this animation but it only goes back 20 days: http://virga.sfsu.edu/scripts/nhemjetstream_model.html

I wish I could find a 3d model with the earth and a good latitude indicator so you could see it whipping around.

It's cold here in Colorado.

[jimlup]

6. It is apparently very cold in Europe

Have you seen the icelights article on NOAA? It is a useful summary:

http://nsidc.org/icelights/

[joshcryer]

7. No I hadn't seen it, that's very good, explains what I mean more clearly! Thank you!