polarwind

Your claim is probably based on recent observations over the last couple of decades or so. Real cold can come from the north too - look at the charts from the 60's and the very strong and frequent ridging northwards into Greenland which resulted in very cold northerly outbreaks with associated polar lows. I can't recall a recent proper polar low - but I've not been really looking.

Yes, but it's a driver every winter, although with different outcomes. This winter, it's tight and strong: It isn't big and flabby, as was the norm over the previous two or so decades, with accompanying mild SW winds in these parts.

The choice of words is a very difficult skill - I'm getting on a bit and I'm still learning. I agree with the rest of what you say.

I'm not sure that its is the luck of the draw as to how the Azores high aligns and where it sits. Prof. Joanna Haigh has published research that correlates alignment of The Azores High and where it sits with the UV output of the sun and cold winters in NW Europe and NE North America. see list of her papers - http://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/j.haigh/publications.html The research in this area was soon taken on board by NASA, and in collaboration with Joanna Haigh and others, has been increasing our knowledge in this area. The Azores High lately has more in common with the synoptics of the 60's than the 90's and since. It seems to be more intense and centred more nearly over The Azores than being less strong and spread out towards central Europe with the jet being forced to the north of Europe. The polar vortex perhaps dances to the same tune of UV and correlated changes with different but sometimes enhanced consequences as to the position of the jet stream.

Sleet here in Derby