Spring storms and the power of the jet stream
Why spring brings such unpredictable and powerful storms
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Spring is a season of dramatic weather across the United States and other midlatitude regions. Rapid shifts between lingering winter cold and returning warm air often produce powerful spring storm systems.
Why spring is a prime season for storms
During spring, the atmosphere becomes a battleground between winter’s lingering cold and the approaching warmth of summer. Chilly air can still plunge south from Canada as warm, moisture-filled air rises northward from the Gulf of Mexico.
This sharp contrast in temperature provides the energy that allows storms to develop. A major factor behind many of these weather events is the jet stream, a fast-moving river of air high in the atmosphere that plays a critical role in how storms form, move and strengthen.
Large temperature differences are what drive the jet stream. As shown below, the national average temperature in March across the continental United States varies significantly, creating these strong contrasts.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Because temperature differences remain large during the spring, the jet stream is often strong and active, creating favorable conditions for powerful storm systems. Across North America, the jet stream typically guides these storms along several common tracks, including Colorado lows, Panhandle hooks, and clipper systems.
Colorado lows form east of the Rocky Mountains and often bring heavy snow, rain, and strong winds to the central United States.
Panhandle hook storms develop near the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and frequently move northeast, sometimes producing severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Clipper systems, which originate in western Canada, are fast-moving storms that can bring quick bursts of snow and strong winds to the northern United States and the Great Lakes.
As these storm systems move through, weather can change quickly and sometimes bring rain, snow, thunderstorms and strong winds all in a single day.
The clash between lingering winter cold and returning warm air guided by the jet stream sets the stage for the powerful and unpredictable storms that make this season so dynamic.
