14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Winter weather pattern typical for El Niño year

Winter weather pattern typical for El Niño year

By Chad Sewich - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Sarah Harlan - email

TRI-STATE (WFIE) - This latest storm comes on the heels of a weaker system this past weekend, and the big snowfall just over a week ago.

We've heard plenty of gripes that winter has overstayed it's welcome.  

Although we've been through worse, the last several weeks prove that winter isn't giving up early this year.

It's the calm before the latest storm, even as snow piles from a system over a week ago linger.

While our snow totals so far this season are right about average, this winter has been active.  

Our weather pattern has brought a series of storms through the Tri-State, some with more bite than others.  

The cycle is typical for an El Niño year.  

El Niño is a warming of the Pacific Ocean near the equator.  

That unusually warm water changes wind patterns across the U.S., driving the Polar jet stream to the north and southern jet just to our south.  

Storms forming over the west coast are being driven east into the Tri-State by the southern jet stream.  

These storms are capable of drawing in Gulf moisture and dropping heavy snow over the eastern third of the U.S.  

We've also had several Alberta clipper systems, so-named because these weak fronts form in Canada and dive our way.  

These storms usually don't have a lot of moisture and move through quickly, but can drop a quick couple of inches of snow before they move out.

The El Niño pattern is not expected to weaken until this spring at the earliest. 

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