What generally occurs to jet streams in terms of altitude in winter?

In winter, jet streams tend to be lower in altitude. This phenomenon is primarily influenced by the temperature gradients between the warm air in the tropics and the colder air in the polar regions. During the winter months, the polar regions experience colder temperatures, resulting in a more pronounced temperature difference. This increased temperature gradient causes the jet streams, which are large scale fast flowing air currents in the atmosphere, to dip further south and descend to lower altitudes.

This can lead to more active weather patterns, as the lower altitude jets can influence the paths of storms and affect weather systems across various regions. Understanding the altitude of jet streams is crucial for pilots, as they play a significant role in flight planning, turbulence, and overall flight conditions.

While jet streams may exhibit variability and occasionally change altitude due to atmospheric conditions, the general trend during winter is for them to be positioned at lower altitudes due to the temperature dynamics between different air masses.