A ‘polar low’ approaching Ireland. Image from Pixabay.

I recently write a short article in the Conversation regarding the upcoming intense winter storm due to impact the Northeastern US. The precise impacts of this event are still uncertain. If it tracks east, then the greatest impacts in terms of winds and precipitation remain offshore or restricted to the very edges of the coastlines. However, a westward shift brings the potential for heavier snow and strong winds inland. While mid-latitude storms tend to get less attention than tropical cyclones, the impacts of an intense mid-latitude storm such as this can be extreme – particularly in terms of snowfall, winds, and coastal erosion/flooding. See the article for more on how intense ‘bomb’ cyclones develop: https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-bomb-cyclone-an-atmospheric-scientist-explains-175825

Currently, Hongsheng Wang and I are conducting research into how extratropical cyclones are influenced by natural variability of the climate. We are examining changes in the frequency, spatial locations, and characteristics (winds, precipitation, moisture) over the Pacific-North American-Atlantic region. Hongsheng recently presented her work at the 2022 Annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society. https://ams.confex.com/ams/102ANNUAL/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/394491