Stratospheric wave propagation during the unusually cold NH early winter 99--00 is studied and compared to the recent cold winters of 94--95, 95--96 (the previous coldest NH winter) and 96--97. EP fluxes reveal less wave activity entered the stratosphere in 95--96 and 99--00, substantial temperature decreases during long periods of little wave activity in 94--95 and 99--00, and little wave propagation into the upper stratosphere in Nov 99--Jan 00 and Nov 95--mid-Jan 96. 2-D and 3-D EP fluxes for 95--96 and 99--00 show both that wave activity was inhibited from propagating upward and poleward through the middle stratosphere until mid-Jan, and there was large horizontal propagation of wave activity in the middle and lower stratosphere during Nov and Dec. Thus, both less wave activity entering the stratosphere, and a background structure that prevented wave activity from propagating into the upper stratosphere, were important factors in producing unusually cold early winters in 95--96 and 99--00. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union