Unusual Winter Snowfall Patterns Across the United States
This winter, the United States is experiencing record snowfall in the South, far surpassing the North, due to unusual jet stream patterns and strong storm systems.
The winter weather in the United States has exhibited unusual patterns this season, with parts of the South receiving significantly more snow than traditionally snowy areas in the North.
After a record-breaking Gulf Coast storm, cities such as New Orleans and Pensacola, Florida, have reported more snow this winter than cities like Omaha, Des Moines, and New York, which is quite atypical.
As a result of this storm, ten southern states have experienced snowfall amounts reaching 500 to 1,000 percent above their average for this time of year. These states include:
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
Conversely, areas farther north, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and several New England states, have seen well below average snowfall.
As of January 25, all states have recorded measurable snow this season, an occurrence last seen by this date in 2018. In the West, the snowiest location has been South Sister Mountain in Oregon with approximately 483 inches, attributed to significant storms. In the East, the Tug Hill Plateau in New York has recorded around 251 inches due to lake-effect snow bands.
Meteorologist Tomer Burg commented on the irony of cities like New Orleans receiving more snow than cities like New York, which has only accumulated 5.8 inches this season. New Orleans and Pensacola have each received 8 and 7.6 inches of snow, respectively.
The unusual patterns this winter stem from the behavior of the jet stream, which is responsible for storm movement. Normally, the subtropical jet stream tends to stay weaker during La Niña winters, but this year's pattern has shown it to be stronger than usual, merging with the polar jet stream and contributing to the formation of significant snowstorms.
Looking ahead, both jet streams are expected to maintain their intensity, likely resulting in more winter storms in the upcoming weeks across the country, particularly in the Rockies, Plains, and Midwest.
