CLEVELAND, Ohio – This winter in Cleveland has been a confusing ride of whether to grab a parka and snow boots or a light jacket and an umbrella. Since Dec. 1, we’ve had 21 days where high temperatures changed more than 10 degrees from the previous days, and 10 days with high temperature changes over 15 degrees.
Temperature swings of 15 degrees are just downright abnormal.
Take a look at high temperature changes so far this winter:
High temperature changes from the previous day.Kelly Reardon, cleveland.com
So why have we had such a roller coaster of weather on these days?
Winter weather in Cleveland is especially unpredictable because of how many different weather systems can affect us, and how moisture from the lake exacerbates them all. In the winter, polar vortex dips are much stronger and more noticeable than in the summer. We’ve also encountered Alberta clippers, a type of low pressure system originating over Canada, which normally push southeast invading with even more glacial air.
What’s a “polar vortex?” Here’s what the widely misunderstood term really means
But mainly, it all comes down to winds.
How the heck can wind cause below-zero wind chills one day and warm weather another?
First, winds blow clockwise around high-pressure systems, and counter-clockwise around low-pressure systems.
This means anytime a high- or low-pressure system passes, depending on whether it occurs north or south of us, it can either drag in arctic air from the north, or warm, humid air from the Gulf. Ohio is especially vulnerable to strong cold and warm air advection because it is so flat.
But it’s not quite that simple.
With a low-pressure system, there is always a pretty typical set up: a warm front ahead, and a trailing cold front.
Typical setup of a low pressure system.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
So if this low pressure is south of us, it’s already dragging in warm air from the Gulf of Mexico, which is easy in Ohio because we have no large mountain ranges to block it. The combination of the two warming triggers can easily cause a 15-degree temperature hike.
The most recent temperature swing, from below-freezing temperatures on Monday, to a record-tying 60 degrees in Cleveland on Tuesday, caused widespread flooding because of the quick melting of the snow pack.
Big Creek flooding
What about strong temperature drops?
Like said earlier, in the winter, passing Alberta clippers and polar vortex dips are at their maximum. Anytime one of these systems is passing, with a combination of strong northerly winds, for example, intense temperature dips are pretty easy to come by.
Fronts, lows and highs and Alberta clippers typically come and go on a day-to-day basis. These constantly passing weather systems — combined with Ohio’s flat terrain, not to mention the influence from the lake — causes the infamous Cleveland bipolar weather.
Sometimes, fronts and high- and low-pressure systems can stall. Then we get more mild weather bringing multiple days of similar temperatures.
Polar vortex, nor’easter, Alberta clipper: Comparing winter storms
If you’re interested in average and low temperature changes so far this winter:
Average temperature changes from the previous day.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Low temperature changes from the previous day.National Weather Service
What do you think? Have you noticed this winter has been a roller coaster of temperatures?
Keep checking cleveland.com/weather for daily weather updates for Northeast Ohio, and don’t forget to submit any weather questions you may have!
Kelly Reardon is cleveland.com’s meteorologist. Please follow me on Facebook and Twitter @kreardon0818.
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