New information!!!
The low in which we recieved snow... Report...
A parcel of air, originating over China traverses the globe, and ends up stalling over Canada's Hudson Bay. Said air had enough moisture to support convection, and it quickly became a low pressure system. This low pressure system moved north west onto Japan. At this point, a trough had broken off and began to use existing convection to support itself. This new low pressure area strengthened until it had a close circulation center. The system existed as a weak low for the greater part of it's journey across the Pacific, until on December 28, the low got caught up in the Pacific jet stream. The jet streams rapid currents sped the system up, and turbulence generated enough convection to become a severe snow storm. The low made landfall on the Pacific coast of the USA near Oregon. Cold polar air dipped south and gave snow showers in the southwestern deserts from various cumuliform clouds on December 31. The low moved over the Central Plains and began the weakening phase, as there was little warm air inflow to the occluded low pressure system. The low ceased new convection on January 02, and by the January 04, the low was just a weak disturbance over the Hudson Bay.
Timeline
December 20
A low forms in the East China Sea.
December 23
A trough breaks off, forming a new low pressure system.
December 25
New low traverses the dateline.
December 26
Low becomes a broad upper level low with minimal convection.
December 27
Low gets caught in the jet stream.
December 28
Low accelerates quickly; jet stream stimulates convection along the cold front of the system.
December 29
Convection picks up rapidly
December 30
Low makes landfall on Pacific West Coast
December 31
Snow falls across Arizona
January 04
Low dissipates as an upper level disturbance over the Hudson Bay, Canada.
