Record Arctic Cyclone of January 2022: Characteristics, Impacts, and Predictability

Abstract Arctic cyclones are a fundamental component of climate, influencing atmospheric heat and moisture transport into the region surface energy, moisture, momentum fluxes. can also drive changes in sea ice energize ocean waves. Here we investigate record low level pressure (SLP) cyclone which formed East Greenland tracked NE over Barents Kara seas between 21 27 January 2022. At its peak intensity on 24 January, reached an estimated depth 932.2 mb at 79.5°N 20°E. North 70°N, this is lowest SLP ERA‐5 reanalysis 1979 to present. The resulted (over period 1979–2022) weekly loss regional area wind speeds, generated waves exceeding 8 m that impinged sea, observed via satellite altimetry as large waves‐in‐sea up 2 amplitude more than 100 km pack. Surface fluxes were strongly impacted by cyclone, with atmosphere‐to‐surface turbulent However, direct thermodynamic impact was modest, likely mainly driven dynamical and/or processes. While storm well predicted days advance, subsequent cover not, due biases forecasts' initial conditions missing physics forecast model such wave‐sea interaction.