Key Takeaways:
- Heavy snow fell in parts of New England, with New York’s Central Park receiving a few centimeters of snow and parts of Long Island receiving 21cm (8.5in) of snow.
- The snowfall in New York was the earliest since 2018, due to bitterly cold air from Canada and a low-pressure system tracking eastwards.
- Southern Spain was hit by Storm Emilia, which brought a tornado and heavy rain to the town of La Cala de Mijas, causing £500,000 in damages.
- The tornado formed due to a combination of warm, moist air rising and cold, dry air sinking, creating a rotating column of air known as a mesocyclone.
- The storm highlighted the hyper-localized nature of tornadoes, with winds reaching 80mph (130km/h) within the tornado column but being much weaker outside of it.
Introduction to Winter Weather
The northeastern United States experienced a significant winter weather event this week, with heavy snow falling in parts of New England. New York’s Central Park received a few centimeters of snow, while parts of Long Island were hit with 21cm (8.5in) of snow. This snowfall was particularly notable, as it was the earliest that New York has experienced snowfall since 2018. The snowfall was a result of a combination of bitterly cold air from Canada and a low-pressure system that tracked eastwards, bringing precipitation to the region.
Previous Near-Miss
Just a few weeks ago, New York narrowly missed out on widespread snowfall. A low-pressure system had tracked to the north of the city, allowing warmer air to edge in and preventing significant snow accumulation. However, upstate New York and other parts of New England were on the colder side of the system and received significant snow accumulations. This highlights the complexity and unpredictability of winter weather systems, where small changes in the track of a low-pressure system can have significant impacts on the type and amount of precipitation that falls.
Current Weather Pattern
This week, however, the synoptic picture was different. The bitterly cold air from Canada plunged down into the northeastern United States, setting the stage for snowfall. As the cold air was already embedded over New York, any precipitation that fell was snow. The low-pressure system that tracked eastwards brought significant snow accumulations to parts of Long Island, with some areas receiving over 8 inches of snow. The snowfall was a result of the perfect combination of cold air and moisture, which came together to produce significant snowfall.
Storm Emilia in Southern Spain
Meanwhile, in southern Spain, Storm Emilia brought a tornado and heavy rain to the town of La Cala de Mijas, Málaga. The tornado swept through the town, tearing down the £67,000 Christmas lights along the main high street and causing an estimated £500,000 in damages. The storm was a result of a combination of warm, moist air rising and cold, dry air sinking, which created a rotating column of air known as a mesocyclone. This mesocyclone intensified and focused the rotation downward, providing the perfect conditions for localized wind gusts to reach 80mph (130km/h).
Formation of the Tornado
The tornado that formed in La Cala de Mijas was a result of a process known as "wind shear", which allowed winds at different altitudes to blow at different speeds and directions. This created an invisible horizontal tube of rotating air, which was lifted by an updraft created by the rising moist air. As the tube of air was lifted, its orientation shifted vertically, forming a mesocyclone. The cold, sinking air facilitated downdrafts which wrapped around the mesocyclone, causing it to intensify and focus the rotation downward. This created a hyper-localized area of strong winds, with winds reaching 80mph (130km/h) within the tornado column but being much weaker outside of it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the recent winter weather events in the northeastern United States and southern Spain highlight the complexity and unpredictability of weather systems. The snowfall in New York was a result of a combination of cold air and a low-pressure system, while the tornado in La Cala de Mijas was a result of a combination of warm, moist air rising and cold, dry air sinking. These events demonstrate the importance of understanding and predicting weather patterns, in order to prepare for and respond to significant weather events. By studying these events, we can gain a better understanding of the complex processes that drive our weather, and improve our ability to predict and prepare for future events.
