US forecasts blizzard, polar vortex, heat dome and atmospheric river all at once
Source: Associated Press
Underlying this is a jet stream gone wild, Maue and Chenard said.
The jet stream is the river of air that moves weather from west to east on a roller coaster-like path. Usually, the plunges are as mild as a kiddie roller coaster. But now that jet stream is barreling down near-vertical, scream-inducing drops, followed by straight-up ascents.
Which means you get a lot of extremes next to each other, Maue said. Storm fronts coming from the Pacific hit that high pressure heat dome in the Southwest and are pushed north to climb that mountainous jet stream peak, grab access to that cold air reservoir up there and bring it back down south down the other side of the hill, he said.
Numerous studies have connected unusual jet stream and polar vortex activity to shrinking Arctic sea ice and human-caused climate change.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/heat-dome-snow-blizzard-cold-polar-flooding-55e3baf6877e81ee1961aade3cb361c3
SpankMe
(3,700 posts)Shouldn't those cancel each other out?
LeftInTX
(34,163 posts)I wore my winter coat walking last night.
I think the high is supposed to be in the 80s tomorrow and 90's on Sunday. I'm really going crazy with my wardrobe! I have a family bday party tomorrow.
PuraVidaDreamin
(4,579 posts)Down Jacket with bibs - sweater with vest- base layers- lycra shorts and top - bathing suit.
You should be all set.
2naSalit
(102,165 posts)mn9driver
(4,847 posts)Turn the faucet on, it moves a little. Turn it on more, it moves more. Crank it wide open and the hose is now whipping pretty good in a random sort of oscillation.
I think we will see more of this behavior in the atmosphere as things continue to heat up.
OKIsItJustMe
(21,774 posts)Received: 11 June 2015 Published in Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss.: 23 July 2015
Revised: 17 February 2016 Accepted: 18 February 2016 Published: 22 March 2016
10 years ago
City Lights
(25,721 posts)I wish she would just take her anger out on his Sea-to-Lake compound down in Floriduh.
OKIsItJustMe
(21,774 posts)The disruption were witnessing is the result of decades of ignoring science. (Personally) I blame Ronald Wilson Reagan for reversing the energy policies of Gerald Ford & Jimmy Carter. (Gerrys contribution, which Jimmy" built upon, is too often overlooked.)