A GUIDE TO BAROCLINIC DISTURBANCES AFFECTING NORTH AMERICA; Revised, Edited Thursday, November 4, 2021

[Larry Cosgrove]

A GUIDE TO BAROCLINIC DISTURBANCES AFFECTING NORTH AMERICA; Introduction

 

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.

 

1) UPPER LEVEL CYCLONIC SYSTEMS

 

a) TUTT SIGNATURES

 

b) MESOSCALE COLD POOLS AND DISTURBANCES

 

c) TRANS-RIDGE WEAKNESSES

 

d) SHORTWAVES

 

e) TROUGHS

 

f) HYBRID-TYPE

 

g) LONGWAVE LOWS

 

 

2) COMMON STORM TRACKS OF MIDLATITUDE CYCLONES

 

A) BORDER TRACKERS

 

B) ALBERTA CLIPPERS

 

C) GREAT LAKES BACKDOOR STORMS (Slang Manitoba Maulers, Saskatchewan Screamers)

 

D) PUGET SOUND TO GREAT BASIN STORMS

E) MOGOLLAN RIM STORMS

 

F) PANHANDLE HOOK "A" CYCLONES

 

G) PANHANDLE HOOK "B" CYCLONES

 

H) SOUTHLAND TEMPEST (Slang EL NINO EXPRESS)

 

I) GALVESTON BAY SPIN-UPS

 

J) GULF COASTERS

 

K) COLORADO TRINIDAD CYCLONES ("A" and "B" North and South Variants)

 

L) COLORADO-LIMON STORMS

 

M) GREAT PLAINS/CORN BELT DUSTERS

 

N) PENINSULA STORMS

 

O) PIEDMONT CYCLONES (Slang: "Inland Runner")

 

P) CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOOS

 

Q) HATTERAS LOWS (NOR'EASTERS)

 

 

3) VORTICES AND SLOW-PROGRESS CLOSED LOWS

 

I) (Sub) ALEUTIAN VORTEX

 

II) GULF OF ALASKA LOW

 

III) HUDSON BAY VORTEX

 

IV) GRAND BANKS VORTEX

 

V) KONA LOW

 

VI) BERMUDA LOW

 

VII) CIRCUMPOLAR VORTEX