Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Strongest low in the world heading towards Alaska

It's quite the fitting end for 2020.






VIDEO: Strongest low in the world heading towards Alaska

After scanning the globe for the lowest barometric pressure, all eyes point to Alaska. It's quite apparent we've got a potential new record-holder on our hands as we ring in 2021.

The severe cold that has recently gripped Siberia is rushing eastward. As that cooler airmass interacts with a powerful Pacific jet stream, the magic can begin. A large temperature anomaly exists across Siberia. The Siberian air flowing across the western Pacific interacts with a warmer, sub-tropical flow south of Japan; consequently, it will create the necessary conditions to push the atmosphere to the limit.
© Provided by The Weather Network

Using the European computer model, the low rapidly deepens east of Japan early Wednesday, falling from 980 mb Wednesday morning to 928 mb in 24 hours.
© Provided by The Weather Network

The lowest pressure ever recorded in the region is 924 mb. By Thursday evening, computer models show the system near this historic pressure threshold as it pushes into the Bering Sea.

For reference, only two Atlantic hurricanes in 2020 had lower pressure readings, Eta and Iota – although this comparison is apples to oranges.

Hurricanes extract their power from warm sea surface temperatures, while the extreme temperature gradients in the northern latitudes fuel the storms tracking across the northern Pacific.

As for wave heights, they can extend well beyond 15 metres south of the intense low-pressure system.

DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS ON CANADA

All of that energy traversing the Pacific Ocean will create some weather chaos across Canada
.
© Provided by The Weather Network

The strong jet stream forecast will create intense storm conditions for British Columbia, while keeping the rest of the continent void of any consistent Arctic air for early January.



Thumbnail courtesy of Unsplash

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