A Guide to
Baroclinic Disturbances Affecting North America
by Larry Cosgrove, 30 December 2007
Foreword
One of the greatest challenges in forecasting is finding a way to quickly categorize and summarize upcoming weather events. Synoptic climatology can be used as an aid in those endeavors, by utilizing historic patterns of surface and upper level disturbances as a measure or comparison to currently evolving systems.
The following descriptions are meant to provide an accompaniment to other forms of data at the disposal of synopticians (such as numerical models, satellite, radar, etc.). 500MB and surface alignments are the principal concern, with relevant historical backdrop and climatic records used to illustrate the storm events spotlighted in this summary.
Contents
UPPER LEVEL CYCLONIC SYSTEMS
- TUTT Signatures
- Mesoscale Cold Pools
- Trans-ridge Weaknesses
- Shortwaves
- Trough-type Cyclone
- Hybrid-type Storms
- Longwave Lows
COMMON STORM TRACKS OF MIDLATITUDE CYCLONES
- Border Trackers
- Alberta Clippers
- GREAT LAKES BACKDOOR STORMS (a.k.a. Manitoba Maulers, Saskatchewan Screamers)
- PUGET SOUND TO GREAT BASIN STORMS
- MOGOLLAN RIM STORMS
- PANHANDLE HOOK "A" CYCLONES
- PANHANDLE HOOK "B" CYCLONES
- SOUTHLAND TEMPEST (a.k.a. EL NINO EXPRESS)
- GALVESTON BAY SPIN-UPS
- GULF COASTERS
- COLORADO TRINIDAD CYCLONES ("A" and "B" North and South Variants)
- COLORADO-LIMON STORMS
- GREAT PLAINS/CORN BELT DUSTERS
- PENINSULA STORMS
- PIEDMONT CYCLONES (a.k.a. Inland Runner)
- CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOOS
- HATTERAS LOWS (NOR'EASTERS)
VORTICES AND SLOW-PROGRESS CLOSED LOWS
- ALEUTIAN LOW
- GULF OF ALASKA VORTEX
- HUDSON BAY VORTEX
- GRAND BANKS VORTEX
- KONA LOW
- BERMUDA LOW
- CIRCUMPOLAR VORTEX
Content on this page is Copyright 2008 by Larry Cosgrove
All rights reserved.
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