Arctic Climate Forum expects above normal temperatures

The sixth Arctic Climate Forum (ACF-6) was held on 28-29 October 2020 as a virtual meeting led by the National Weather Service (NWS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  It brought together more than 80 participants from 12 countries representing meteorological services, academia, shipping industry, indigenous people, and other key partners and decision makers.

ACF-6 presented key climate information on the state of Arctic climate (temperature, precipitation and sea-ice) during the Arctic Summer 2020 and the Arctic Winter 2020-21 outlook. The combination of an Arctic meridional atmospheric circulation (north-south) and high ocean surface heating during summer (JJA: June, July, August 2020) was the main driver of this past season’s temperature, precipitation and sea ice anomalies. Above normal temperaturesforecast for all Arctic regions for the upcoming winter (November 2020 to January 2021) will continue to have implications for sea-ice over that time period.

View the full WMO press release.

Arctic Climate Forum expects above normal temperatures

The fifth Arctic Climate Forum (ACF-5) was held on 27-28 May 2020 as a virtual meeting led by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), Roshydromet. It brought together nearly 90 participants from 12 countries representing meteorological services, shipping industry, indigenous people, and other key partners and decision makers.

ACF-5 presented key climate information on the state of Arctic climate (temperature, precipitation and sea-ice) during Winter/Spring 2019/20 and the Arctic Summer 2020 outlook. Above normal temperatures are expected to continue across the majority of the Arctic for June–August 2020, which provides information for decision-makers about a rapidly changing region, which is warming more than twice the global mean.

View the full WMO press release.