Where do mid-latitude cyclones typically form (in North America in winter)?
(Remember that cyclones like to develop along air mass boundaries) – Lee side of the Rockies = Lee Cyclones o Alberta Clippers FAST MOVING and usually dont have too much precip associated with them because they are far from a moisture source o Colorado Low Intense Low, with strong warm air advection in the warm sector, very cold temps in the cold sector. If there is a lot of gulf moisture to work with, they there is usually sleet, freezing rain and rain associated with the warm front, strong thunderstorms along the southern edge of the cold front and snow along the backside and to the NW of the Low (even BLIZZARDS) – Along the East Coast o Gulf Low Form along the southern coast where there is a thermal boundary between the warm ocean and cool land. Usually have a lot of precip associated with them because they are so close to the ocean o Hatteras Low and Noreasters (aka bomb cyclones) These are the MOST INTENSE systems and they form along the thermal boundary between the warm Gulf Stre
