Circulation around a jet streak—a fast-moving pocket of air within the jet stream—formed this distinctive arc of clouds.
Published Dec 4, 2019
An early spring storm system advanced out of the Southern Plains in mid-March 2008, causing widespread flooding. Strong southerly winds developed ahead of an area of low pressure located over the Southern High Plains and drew moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico across Texas and Louisiana. This warm, moist air collided with a frontal boundary, producing repeated bouts of thunderstorms and heavy rain from central Texas through Oklahoma and into Kansas and Missouri.
Published Mar 21, 2008
Rainfall across the United States in the winter of 2005–06 has shown the classic pattern of a La Niña event. This ocean-atmosphere pattern was likely responsible for the drought in the Southwest, the South, the central Plains, and Florida which led to several devastating wildfires.
Published Mar 15, 2006
La Niña, the counterpart to El Niño, alters rainfall patterns over the Pacific and Indian Ocean basins. La Niña develops when stronger-than-average trade winds push the warm surface waters of the equatorial Pacific west. Since cold water rises to replace the warm water, La Niña leaves the eastern and central Pacific Ocean much cooler than normal, while the western Pacific is much warmer than normal. These anomalies in sea surface temperature are mirrored in rainfall patterns, with warmer-than-normal temperatures resulting in enhanced rainfall. In general, La Niña brings unusually heavy rain to the West Pacific, Indonesia, parts of Southeast Asia, and northern Australia.
Published Jan 23, 2008
The increase around the wettest regions of Earth comes from a rise in large, well-organized thunderstorms.
Published Mar 26, 2015
California has been deluged by rainfall that is approaching records for the month of December.
Published Dec 22, 2010
