Colorado low

A Colorado low is a low pressure storm that forms in southeastern Colorado or northeastern New Mexico, typically in the winter. After forming, the system moves across the Great Plains.^[1] Colorado lows produce heavy wintry precipitation, and they have a general east to northeast movement, impacting regions as far north as Chicago and as far east as the Atlantic coast. If upper-level conditions are right, the jet stream can push the low further south, bringing wintry precipitation as far as Texas. When pushed this far south, the system is often referred to as a "blue norther". Winter Colorado lows are responsible for a majority of the snow that the Midwest receives; however, summer systems can trigger vast, long-lasting thunderstorms.^[2] The Colorado low is similar to the Alberta clipper.^[3]

See also

• Alberta clipper
• Gulf low
• Nor'easter

References

1. ^ National Weather Service. "Colorado Low". National Weather Service Glossary. http://www.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?word=Colorado+low. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
2. ^ Baker, D. James (2008). Weather: The Ultimate Book of Meteorological Events. Andrews McMeel Publishing. pp. 34. ISBN 9780740769894. http://books.google.com/books?id=jyjJ0oi9C3YC&pg=PT34&dq=%22Colorado+low%22&hl=en&ei=iyahTufEFITc0QGmuaSjBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CEgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22Colorado%20low%22&f=false. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
3. ^ American Meteorological Society. "Colorado low". Glossary of Meteorology. http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?p=1&query=colorado+low. Retrieved 21 October 2011.