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In winter 2020/2021, several episodes of cold air outbreaks have wreaked havoc across much of China, resulting in exceptionally low temperatures over northern‐to‐southeastern China. Our analysis shows that the anomalous circulation leading to the cold wave in China was characterized as: (a) a strengthening of the Siberian high, (b) a deepening of the East Asian trough, and (c) a weakening of the stratospheric polar vortex. Prior to the winter, in summer and autumn, the largest sea ice loss along the Siberian coast was observed. We therefore address the question whether the substantial sea ice loss has contributed to the cold wave. First, applying singular value decomposition (SVD) analysis, we find strong coherence between the autumn Arctic sea ice coverage and temperatures over the central‐to‐east Asian region with the sea ice component (SVD1_SIC) reaching a record high in 2020 and displaying a decadal shift around 2005. Associated with both the interannual and decadal variations of the SVD1_SIC, there are similar circulation anomalies as described in (a), (b) and (c) above. Second, applying self‐organizing maps, wintertime daily air temperatures are clustered into nine nodes with Node‐1 mostly resembling "warm Arctic, cold Eurasia" pattern. The frequency of Node‐1 shows a similar decadal shift as observed in SVD_SIC1 above, with a correlation of about 0.56. Associated with Node‐1, the circulation anomalies are consistent with features highlighted in (a), (b) and (c) above. Thus, taking all the evidence into account, we conclude that the substantial sea ice loss along the Siberian coast contributed significantly to the 2020/2021 winter cold wave in China. The mechanism behind the contribution in this study highlights that the Arctic sea ice loss is favourable for certain circulation patterns on climate timescale, reinforcing disruptive chain of reactions on weather timescale, and leading to severe cold events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on statistical analysis using observations and idealized model simulations, previous studies have revealed the potential response of early‐winter atmospheric circulation and temperature anomalies to November Ural blocking (UB) anomalies. Using a large number of coupled simulations, this study found that the response is sensitive to the intensity of November mid‐latitude westerly jet over Eurasia. Stronger‐than‐normal November UB without a significantly weakened westerly jet could not cause significant atmospheric response in early‐winter. By contrast, stronger‐than‐normal November UB with a significantly weakened jet would be followed by a warmer Arctic‐colder Eurasia (WACE) pattern in December. The significantly weakened westerly jet favors stronger upward propagation of planetary waves, which causes stronger weakening and longer persistence of the stratospheric polar vortex. This stratospheric response persists into December and propagates downward into the troposphere interfering with planetary waves (especially wavenumber‐1). The lead‐lag UB‐WACE linkage modulated by mid‐latitude jet may have implications for sub‐seasonal predictability. Plain Language Summary: Observations and idealized model simulations have shown that strong Ural blocking (UB) anomalies in November can induce the "warmer Arctic, colder Eurasia" anomaly in the following December. In this study, a large number of coupled simulations are employed. The results show that the impact of November UB on early‐winter Arctic‐Eurasian temperature is sensitive to the intensity of November mid‐latitude (around 60°N) westerly jet over Eurasia. When November UB anomalies are accompanied by a significantly weakened mid‐latitude westerly jet, early‐winter would experience a warmer Arctic‐colder Eurasia pattern. The significantly weakened westerly wind waveguide is favorable for stronger upward propagation of planetary waves caused by UB anomalies, which leads to persistent atmospheric response in the following December. Key Points: Early‐winter atmospheric response to November Ural blocking (UB) anomalies is sensitive to the background state of westerly jetStrong UB with sufficiently weakened westerly jet in November can induce a warmer Arctic‐colder Eurasia pattern in DecemberThe weakened westerly wind waveguide promotes stronger upward propagation of planetary waves forced by UB anomalies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations have shown subseasonal reversal of temperature anomalies between early and late winter over Eurasia, which is distinct from the seasonal mean condition. Based on the reanalysis data, the 1800‐year control simulation and the 40‐member ensemble simulations in 1920–2100 from the Community Earth System Model (CESM) Large Ensemble (CESM‐LE), this study reveals that the reversal of surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies between early and late winter is one of the dominant and intrinsic features of the Arctic‐Eurasian winter climate. Such a reversal is characterized by "colder Arctic, warmer Eurasia" in December (January–February) and "warmer Arctic, colder Eurasia" in January–February (December). Robust climate dynamic processes associated with the reversal of SAT anomalies, including subseasonal reversals of anomalies in the Ural blocking, midlatitude westerlies, and stratospheric polar vortex, are found in both reanalysis data and CESM simulations, indicating the important role of internal atmospheric variability. Further analysis reveals that the reversal of Ural blocking anomalies in late December can be a potential precursor for the reversal of SAT anomalies in late winter. The reversal of midlatitude westerly wind anomalies associated with the Ural blocking can affect upward propagation of planetary‐scale waves especially with wavenumber 1, subsequently promoting the contribution of stratospheric polar vortex to the reversal of SAT anomalies in late winter over the Arctic‐Eurasian regions. Such a troposphere‐stratosphere pathway triggered by the perturbation of tropospheric circulations is confirmed by the CESM‐LE simulations, and it may be useful for the prediction of subseasonal reversal of SAT anomalies. Plain Language Summary: Observations show that Eurasia may experience subseasonal reverse temperature anomalies from early to late winter. For example, the warmer‐than‐normal conditions in early winter can change to colder‐than‐normal conditions in late winter. Such a reverse temperature anomaly in Eurasia is usually concurrent with a reverse one in the Arctic. The "colder Arctic, warmer Eurasia" pattern in early winter followed by "warmer Arctic, colder Eurasia" pattern in late winter is robustly detected in climate model simulations, indicating that the subseasonal reversal of temperature anomalies is one of the intrinsic features of the Arctic‐Eurasian climate. This feature is associated with robust climate dynamic processes, including subseasonal reversals of the anomalies in the Ural blocking, the midlatitude westerly winds, and the stratospheric polar vortex. Because the Ural blocking can trigger the troposphere‐stratosphere interaction, the reversal of Ural blocking anomalies in late December can be a potential precursor for the reversal of surface air temperature anomalies in late winter. Key Points: Reversal of surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies between early and late winter is an intrinsic feature of the Arctic‐Eurasian climateThe changes of Ural blocking in late December may indicate whether the SAT in late winter will be reversed to early winterRobust climate dynamic processes associated with such a reversal of SAT are found in both reanalysis data and long‐term model simulations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]