Winter Weather Patterns

Winter is upon us. This doesnt mean we have to strike a baleful note of doom, though it should remind many of us that winter generally brings more cloudy skies to North America. In 2015, an Alaska-based climate blogger, Brian Brettschneider, examined cloud coverage data from selected weather stations in the National Climate Data Center's (NCDC) Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN). He created a series of maps showing the cloudiest parts of the U.S., the distribution of cloud cover by month and the cloudiest months for each first order reporting station.

Key Takeaways:

• Winter generally brings more widespread and persistent cloudy skies across much of North America, caused by lower sun angles creating stable inversion layers and horizontally stratified overcast conditions.
• While cooler winter air holds less moisture, clouds and precipitation still form, with the type of precipitation (snow, sleet, freezing rain) determined by the vertical distribution of temperature in the atmosphere.
• Pilots must be aware that specific winter weather phenomena, like persistent inversions and fog, are highly regional and can differ significantly from local experiences, requiring careful adaptation of weather knowledge and risk management.

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