Alberta Clipper

An Alberta Clipper is a small, fast-moving low pressure system that forms on the Pacific front, over the Rocky Mountain of Alberta Canada. The storm usually travels southeast into the Great Plains and it is followed by a very cold polar air mass. A clipper originates when warm, moist winds from the Pacific Ocean comes into contact with mountains. The air travels down the leeward side of the mountains, often forming a chinook in Alberta, then develops into a storm over the Canadian prairies. The system then comes together with a cold air mass in the winter, and slides southward into a pocket of high pressure, which sends the storm barreling into parts of the central and northeastern US. The storm brings strong winds gusts usually ranging between 35-45 mph with a sharp drop in temperatures in a short period of time. (temperatures can drop 30-40 degrees in a matter of 10-12 hours) Along with strong winds and the cold artic air mass the most brutal part of the storm can be the wind chill temperatures which can easily drop into the single digits. Alberta clippers usually occur between late December and February, some can form as early as November.