Northern Tier, dragging a cold front behind it. The low slides along the building trough into the U.S. to deepen.Īt this point, the Clipper starts to move. This pulls Arctic air southward from northern Canada, causing a building upper-level trough across the central U.S. A fresh area of low pressure forms as the energy passes over the Rockies and moves into the Prairies. Typically, high pressure is in place along the Pacific Coast, forcing the atmospheric energy to speed northward along the jet stream into Canada. Several ingredients are needed for an Alberta Clipper to form. This then forms into a new storm system that sets out on a path southeastward into the northern U.S. However, the energy in them isn't lost, it keeps moving along. The rest of the name comes from where they generally form, Alberta, Canada.Īreas of low pressure moving from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest tend to fall apart as they cross the northern Rockies, unable to strengthen in the dry air of the Canadian Prairies. So, where do they come from? The name, "Alberta Clipper," comes from the fact that the storm quickly clips across the northern tier of the U.S., similar to how fast 19th-century sailing ships known as "clippers" sped across the seas. However, they do bring cold, Canadian air that can drop the temperature by 30-degrees or more. Since they form well away from a body of water, Alberta Clippers tend to not have much moisture associated with them, so they are not big snow producers. It's a winter storm system that usually starts just north of Montana, in the Canadian province of Alberta.Īlberta Clippers typically form just east of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. No, it's also not a hockey team from Canada, but you'd be close. It's not one of your father's power tools either. Alberta Clipper is a funny sounding name.
