[mikeelm]

I've really taken notice of this in the last several years if not longer.


It seems like when it gets between 0 or 20 degrees the east coast doesn't seem to get as cold. If you look at any weather map either on TV or the computer, you'll see what I mean?


How Come?


Maybe there's really no good REASON OTHER THAN THAT'S JUST THE WAS IT IS but I'd thought I'd ask.


Sorry I accidently hiy the caps lock button while typing this.

[CGII]

Maybe there's really no good REASON OTHER THAN THAT'S JUST THE WAS IT IS but I'd thought I'd ask.


Sorry I accidently hiy the caps lock button while typing this.

Ironically it took more time to write "Sorry I accidently hiy the caps lock button while typing this" than it would to have retyped "reason other than that's just the way it is."

[MNMike]

I believe it has to do with downsloping winds from the appalachians, and also the atlantic ocean.

[mikeelm]

Uh if you can't answer my question then just shut the hell up!


Refeering to CGII comment.

[hydrobond]

I think is has to do with the jet stream. It seems to take a turn to the north before hitting the coast, leaving the warmer air farther north on the coast.
http://www.weatherusa.net/blog/files/20060309/jet_stream.jpg

I'm not an expert, but this seems like a good explination.

[MNMike]

well the jetstream moves though. Its not always configured like that, sometimes the trough goes well past the coast. THats the explanation as to why its warmer there today...the arctic front hasn't made it there yet. When it does though, the air will still be warmer on the east side of the mountains.

[OhioGuy]

Generally these arctic airmasses tend to drop down out of central Canada into the north central US. As they drop southward, some modification of the airmass does occur since they're moving into more southerly latitudes. By the time the airmasses have advanced eastward to the Atlantic seaboard, enough modification has occured that cities like Boston, New York, and Philly often don't experience temps quite as cold as locations like Minneapolis and Chicago. Also the higher terrain of the Appalachain mountains can help to block some of the truly cold air from moving eastward (cold air being denser than warm air means it has more difficulty getting up over the mountains). The mountain affect isn't quite the same as it is in the western US with the Rockies, but it does have an impact for the east coast.

Now that's not to say the eastern seaboard always avoids the colder temps. Sometimes an arctic front will drop southward over the eastern Great Lakes and New England and this is the situation that generally produces the most severe cold along the eastern seaboard. In this situation, the airmass doesn't have as much opportunity to moderate since it's droping directly southward from Canada into places like Boston & NYC.

Generally speaking, in a typical winter there are a lot more clippers moving down out of Alberta into the north central US than there are systems moving down out of Ontario/Quebec into the northeast US. So the north central US is just unlucky I guess. If Canada wasn't there and instead it was just ocean, our climate here in the US would be much more moderate than it is (not that I wish Canada wasn't there... I love Canada! :)).

Hope that helps you out with the question. Sorry if I've rambled any with my explanation.

[LMich]

As someone with very limited meteorological knowledge, I always figured it had to do (mostly) with the Atlantic Ocean being a huge moderating force for cooler temperatures near the coast in summer, and slightly warmer temperatures during the winer near the coast. I'm not sure how far this moderating factor goes inland, though. (barring areas with wild changes in topography near the coast if there are any.)

[BnaBreaker]

In South Bend today there was a wind chill of -25.

I stayed in.

[CGII]

We're supposed to get a -30 wind chill tomorrow, that'll be fun.

On Friday we had a -15 wind chill and the school started on fire. And we weren't allowed to warm up in our cars.

[Robert Pence]

I noticed a few minutes ago that it has warmed up to 0 F already. The wind died down overnight, though.

Yesterday we had 35-45 mph winds much of the day. It blew so hard that it emptied my bird feeder; this morning there's a fallout pattern on the patio for about 15 feet downwind.

Even before the past couple of mild winters, the current pattern would have been unusual; we used to get our subzero temps starting right after Christmas and lasting for 2 - 3 weeks. By February, things were starting to loosen up a little bit. We're about a month behind schedule, but I'm rather liking that the snow has been accumulating slowly and staying around instead of turning to slush and then refreezing to ice the day after it falls.

[MayorOfChicago]

As someone with very limited meteorological knowledge, I always figured it had to do (mostly) with the Atlantic Ocean being a huge moderating force for cooler temperatures near the coast in summer, and slightly warmer temperatures during the winer near the coast. I'm not sure how far this moderating factor goes inland, though. (barring areas with wild changes in topography near the coast if there are any.)

Weather moves west to east though. I know the Pacific Ocean warms the northwest, but that's because it's blowing from the water over land.

On the east coast it blows from the land out over the water. It might help moderate the actual coast edges, but move inland 25 miles and I don't think it makes a huge difference.

Maybe I'm wrong, but just thinking about it I wouldn't think the Atlantic would warm the whole eastern areas of the US.

[cabasse]

Maybe there's really no good REASON OTHER THAN THAT'S JUST THE WAS IT IS but I'd thought I'd ask.


Sorry I accidently hiy the caps lock button while typing this.

Ironically it took more time to write "Sorry I accidently hiy the caps lock button while typing this" than it would to have retyped "reason other than that's just the way it is."

double lol at this...

Refeering

angry pothead?

___

it's only -2F out as i type this, which is most likely the coldest temperature i've ever experienced in my lifetime, having lived in florida and georgia until 2 years ago. i think i'm getting used to it, except for the insanely short amount of time it takes for my hands to go numb without gloves outside. >30 seconds

[Stephenapolis]

As someone that has forgotten most of my meteorological information. I can tell you that the east coast is kept somewhat warm by the aircurrents over the atlantic. These air currents travel up the coast. They are not usually as powerful as the fronts that move from west to east, but are strong enough to help moderate the weather. Geograhpy also plays a part of it too.

[LMich]

Weather moves west to east though. *smacks forehead* I'd completely forgot about that obvious nugget. :dunce: And, thanks, Stephen, for that other info.

[CGII]

Yesterday's high was -5. They called off school today it's so cold.

[Wheelingman04]

I believe it has to do with downsloping winds from the appalachians, and also the atlantic ocean.

You are exactly right.

[Michi]

...the insanely short amount of time it takes for my hands to go numb without gloves outside. >30 seconds
You mean < 30 seconds? :P

Isn't this kind of weather called the Alberta Clipper?

Whatever it is, I'm getting pissed off at it. I haven't been warm in a week (except when I thaw in the shower).

Normally, I like winter to stay until after my birthday in late February, but it's ok, spring can come tonight.

EDIT: Wait, now I'm confused (<>)

[LMich]

You mean < 30 seconds? :P

Isn't this kind of weather called the Alberta Clipper?

Whatever it is, I'm getting pissed off at it. I haven't been warm in a week (except when I thaw in the shower).

Normally, I like winter to stay until after my birthday in late February, but it's ok, spring can come tonight.

EDIT: Wait, now I'm confused (<>)

The cold'll do that to you. :haha:

[Michi]

LMich, cold'll isn't a word! :dunce: :hmmm:

[Blitz]

Has to do with a) the Great Lakes moderating the air mass somewhat and b) the Appalachian Mountains blocking the air mass. Cold air is very dense and can't move over mountains easily.

Wow, I used my climatology degree for something.

[LMich]

LMich, cold'll isn't a word! :dunce: :hmmm:

I know. :) It's a contraction I used, but I doubt I'm the first.

[Blitz]

You mean < 30 seconds? :P

Isn't this kind of weather called the Alberta Clipper?

Whatever it is, I'm getting pissed off at it. I haven't been warm in a week (except when I thaw in the shower).

Normally, I like winter to stay until after my birthday in late February, but it's ok, spring can come tonight.

EDIT: Wait, now I'm confused (<>)


An Alberta Clipper is a weak storm system that originates in the foothills of the Rockies in Alberta. It then travels rapidly across the northern Plains and Great Lakes states, usually dumping only an inch or two of snow. After they pass through, they reinforce the flow of Arctic air from the north.

[MayorOfChicago]

^ nice, we just had a nice little clipper today.

To hell with the Alberta Clippers!! BRING ON THE PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. I miss the 40's and 50's.

[mobyhead]

Yesterday's Alberta Clipper gave central Indiana between 4 and 7 inches. That surprised me as these clipper systems are usually moisture starved.

[mikeelm]

WEll winter's over though it doesn't seem like it. Or at least it doesn't at night. Most of the Midwest is quite cool.

[MNMike]

been pretty warm in Minneapolis...aside from last night when the low was a chilly 41. besides that lows have been in the 50s here. Highs have been mostly in the 70s and 80s, we even had 2 days in the low to mid 90s last week. Everything has been fully green for several weeks...so I would say it seems like spring, at least in the twin cities:) Its been a really nice spring since about the 10th of april. Things turned green basically overnight somewhere in late april. It was amazing.

also theres a weather thread in the skybar, but I guess its not specific to the midwest:)

[Cincinnatis]

It's in the mid 40's now ... wtf?