Abstract. In this study, the persistent winter haze that occurred over Beijing during 1980 to 2016 is examined using reanalysis and station data. On both
interannual and daily-to-weekly timescales, the winter haze weather in Beijing is found to be associated with a pronounced atmospheric
teleconnection pattern from the North Atlantic to Eurasia (Beijing). A positive western-type North Atlantic Oscillation (WNAO+) phase and a
positive East Atlantic/West Russia (EA/WR+) phase are observed as part of this teleconnection pattern (an arched wave train). This study focuses
on the role of the WNAO pattern, because the WNAO+ pattern acts as the origin of the atmospheric transmission, 8–10 d before the
persistent haze events. Further analyses reveal that the WNAO+ pattern can increase the number of haze days and persistent haze events on
interannual and daily-to-weekly timescales. Specifically, strong WNAO+ winters (above the 95th percentile) can increase the number of haze days
and persistent haze events by 26.0 % and 42.3 %, respectively. In addition, a high WNAO index for the 5 d average (above the 95th
percentile) predicts a 16.9 % increase in the probability of haze days on Day 8 and a higher proportion of persistent haze days compared with an
unknown WNAO state. Thus, the WNAO+ pattern is as a necessary prior background condition for the formation of the wave train and is a skillful
predictor for persistent hazy weather. Corresponding to the WNAO+ pattern, intensified zonal wind and a north–south sea surface temperature
tripolar mode over the North Atlantic also appear before persistent haze events on the daily-to-weekly timescale. On the interannual timescale,
winters with a greater number of persistent haze days are also associated with a tripolar sea surface temperature (SST) mode over the North Atlantic that is situated farther
northward.