Alberta clipper
Fast Canadian storm
An Alberta clipper is a fast-moving winter storm that originates near Alberta, Canada, and sweeps southeast across the northern United States.
These systems bring brief but intense bursts of snow, sharp temperature drops, and strong winds.
The name borrows from clipper ships, known for their speed: An Alberta clipper is expected to bring 3-5 inches overnight.
Traveling at high velocity
speeding · overnight · twelve hours · jet stream · track · eastward · southeastward · barreling
Lacking intensity or force
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- frontForward-facing side
- systemConnected parts forming whole
- troughOpen container for animal feed
isobars · forecast · synoptic · disturbance · pressure gradient · cold front · storm track · winter storm
Flat treeless grasslands
- CanadaNorthern North American nation
- SaskatchewanCanadian prairie province
- ManitobaCentral Canadian province
- EdmontonAlberta's capital
Calgary · Rocky Mountains · Canadian Rockies · lee side · continental · Great Plains · Great Lakes · leeward
Brief, light precipitation
- light snowMinimal frozen precipitation
- snow squallsBrief intense winter precipitation
- powderFine dry particles
- accumulationCollected mass over time
dusting · snowfall · whiteout · blowing snow · drifts · lake-effect · dry snow
Extremely and intensely cold
- arcticOf extreme northern cold
- subzeroBelow the freezing point
- bitterSharp, unpleasant taste
- freezingExtremely cold
chill · frostbite · hypothermia · shiver · numb · polar · icy · frost
Marked by sudden drafts
- blusteryWildly, coldly windy
- galeSevere sustained wind
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
- wind chillApparent temperature from airflow
howling · raw · biting wind · northwesterly · sustained winds · blowing · brisk
fast-moving
Traveling at high velocity
racing · speeding · overnight · twelve hours · jet stream · track · eastward · southeastward · barreling · sweeping
low-pressure
Lacking intensity or force
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- frontForward-facing side
- systemConnected parts forming whole
trough · isobars · forecast · synoptic · disturbance · pressure gradient · cold front · storm track · winter storm · nor'easter
prairies
Flat treeless grasslands
- CanadaNorthern North American nation
- SaskatchewanCanadian prairie province
- ManitobaCentral Canadian province
Edmonton · Calgary · Rocky Mountains · Canadian Rockies · lee side · continental · Great Plains · Great Lakes · leeward
flurries
Brief, light precipitation
- light snowMinimal frozen precipitation
- snow squallsBrief intense winter precipitation
- powderFine dry particles
accumulation · dusting · snowfall · whiteout · blowing snow · drifts · lake-effect · dry snow
frigid
Extremely and intensely cold
freezing · chill · frostbite · hypothermia · shiver · numb · polar · icy · frost · windchill
gusty
Marked by sudden drafts
wind chill · howling · raw · biting wind · northwesterly · sustained winds · blowing · brisk
Alberta clippernor'easter
Northeastern coastal storm system
lake-effect snow · bomb cyclone · stationary front · blizzard · atmospheric river
Alberta, clipper, clip, clipped, clipping, clippings, clippers, clips