Cold Weather Delayed over North America
Explanation:
Why is it so warm in northern North America?
Usually during this time of year -- mid-November --
temperatures average as much as 30 degrees colder.
Europe is not seeing a similar warming.
One factor appears to be an unusually large and stable
high pressure region that has formed over
Canada,
keeping
normally colder arctic air away.
Although the fundamental cause of any weather pattern is typically complex,
speculation holds that this persistent Canadian
anticyclonic region is related to warmer than average
sea surface temperatures in the mid-Pacific -- an
El NiЯo -- operating last winter.
North
Americans should enjoy it while it lasts, though.
In the next week or two,
cooler-than-average temperatures now being recorded in the
mid-Pacific -- a
La NiЯa -- might well begin to affect North American
wind and temperature patterns.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
