From the Alberta Clipper to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo and the Pineapple Express, learn how damaging winter storms form across the United States and Canada.

Alberta Clipper

This winter storm forms on the eastern side of the Canadian Rockies, in the province of Alberta. The Alberta Clipper is a cold, rapidly moving storm moves south into the Northern United States areas of the Great Lakes and New England. The Alberta Clipper is notorious for cold and wind yet is known for producing little snow accumulation because of the lack of moisture. Snowfall only happens if the storm gathers enough moisture from the southern areas effected by the Gulf of Mexico.

Hatteras Bomb

This major storm is considered a fast-forming nor'easter that forms off the coast of North Carolina. Forming near Cape Hatteras, where the ocean currents meet, this low pressure system develops quickly into a powerful winter storm. It is known as a bomb, because it can form so fast, sometimes within a day.

Gulf Low

Gulf Low storms begin in the Gulf of Mexico moving to the northeast. These storms begin forming over the ocean, soaking up moisture and energy as they gather strength.

Colorado Low

Colorado Low storms begin just east of the Rockies on the high plains of Colorado. This area generates most of the storms that effect the Eastern United States. These storms can be hard to predict, either bringing rain or snow depending on their track.

Chattanooga Choo-Choo

Storms known as the Chattanooga Choo-Choo develop over the western Appalachian Mountains as a weak cold front. They build into winter storms with a low pressure center, slowing moving across the Tennessee and Ohio river valleys. The Chattanooga Choo-Choo can bring heavy snowfall.

Nor'easters

Nor'easters are born along the Atlantic Coast, moving up the East Coast. As the strong low pressure storm sucks up moisture, it becomes extremely powerful. These powerful cyclonic storms bring everything from rain to heavy snow to freezing rain and flooding.

Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express storms impact the Northwestern United States. When the polar jet stream dips south into tropical waters, these storms soak up large amounts of moisture. This storms pass by the Hawaiian Islands, headed for the Northwest. The Pineapple Express is known to result in heavy rains and flooding in the Northwest.

Siberian Express

Siberian Express is an arctic air mass developing from a high pressure center at the North Pole. As the air mass dips into the Eastern U.S. it can cause a dramatic drop in temperatures in a short period of time. With strong winds, precipitation and cold temperatures, the Siberian Express can easily cause damage and destruction.

Texas Panhandler

Texas Panhandler develops east of the Rockies when the cold air from the mountains collides with the warm air from the Gulf of Mexico. Traveling over the Great Plains and Midwest, the Texas Panhandler drops heavy snow across mid-America.

Blue Norther

Blue Norther or Texas Norther moves east across the Great Plains, dipping into areas of Texas. With quickly dropping temperatures and snow, this briskly moving winter storm can cause blizzards with a strong Northern wind.

References:

Cox, John D. Weather for Dummies. 2000. Wiley Publishing Inc, Hoboken, New Jersey.