Colorado low

A typical path of a Colorado low

A Colorado low is a low pressure that forms in southeastern Colorado or northeastern New Mexico, typically in the winter. After forming, the system moves across the Great Plains.^[1] Colorado lows produce heavy wintry precipitation, and have a general east to northeast movement, impacting regions as far north as Winnipeg and as far east as the Atlantic coast. If upper level conditions are right, the jet stream can push the low farther south, bringing wintry precipitation as far as Texas. When pushed this far south, the system is often referred to as a "blue norther". On the more typical track, a Colorado low can be similar to an Alberta clipper.^[2] Winter Colorado lows are responsible for a majority of the snow that the Midwest receives; however, summer systems can trigger vast, long-lasting thunderstorms.^[3] Spring and early summer Colorado low cyclogenesis can precipitate significant "syoptically evident" tornado outbreaks over the Great Plains and Midwest.

See also

• Gulf low
• Nor'easter
• Panhandle hook
• Denver Convergence Vorticity Zone (DCVZ)

References

1. National Weather Service. "Colorado Low". National Weather Service Glossary. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
2. American Meteorological Society. "Colorado low". Glossary of Meteorology. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
3. Baker, D. James (2008). Weather: The Ultimate Book of Meteorological Events. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-7407-6989-4. Retrieved 21 October 2011.

External links