‘Alberta Clippers’ keeping mid-December wintry
The first month of meteorological winter started off with a bang in terms of cold and snowy weather across much of the Midwest, including here in the Mid-Missouri River Valley where at least an inch of snow was on the ground by Dec. 1, and in many spots several inches.
While a few milder days led to a fairly quick melt-off in Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas, an active winter weather pattern has still been in play with regular shots of polar and even arctic air invading swaths of the lower 48 states.
Over the past week or so, frigid air has also been accompanied by fast moving, tightly wound low pressure systems racing from Canada into the northern United States. These quick-hitting winter weather makers are known as “clipper systems”, most often originating from the Canadian province of Alberta, thus coined as “Alberta clippers”.
Clipper systems may be quick hitters, but they often pack a punch, bringing bands of blinding snow and high winds. This past Tuesday, a potent Alberta clipper brought near blizzard conditions to parts of the upper Midwest, and wind gusts of well over 60 mph.
That same system brought strong winds to Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas early Wednesday morning, with several gusts of just under 50 mph recorded at St. Joseph’s Rosecrans Memorial Airport. Along with the blustery winds, also came a quick punch of cold air, but no appreciable snowfall locally.
Like a parade, another Alberta clipper tracked a bit further south on Thursday. While this one was much weaker, it did bring a small swath of light snow to parts of Iowa and North central and Northeast Missouri east of Interstate 35.
By Saturday, yet another Alberta clipper will bring another chance for light accumulating snow to many of the same areas, and much colder air. By late Saturday night lows will fall well into the single digits for much of the Central Plains including the Mid-Missouri River Valley.
Fun fact, clipper systems can also originate in other Canadian provinces. These are known as “Saskatchewan Screamers” or “Manitoba Maulers” depending on exactly where they form.
