Re: Retrograding Rex Block over East Canada
Posted by JAC on 12/16/2009, 7:45 am
It blocks the usual west to east flow of systems.

Retrograding means it is moving backwards or from east to west for some period of time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_(meteorology)

*A Rex block resembles a "half figure 8" or "backwards S". The basic pattern of the Rex block is show below:





The Rex block in this case is hugging the West Coast of the U.S.

A Rex block sets up with a strong high-pressure ridge adjacent to a strong low-pressure trough.

A large ridge is north of a large trough.

Air flow in the north Pacific curves around the ridge and then around the trough in the Southwest US.

This causes the air to swing in loops near the same longitude but forces the air to a much lower latitude.

The wind flow makes little progress to the east due to the "half figure 8" rotation the air must endure.



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Major Snowstorm( Saturday) Mid-Atlantic??? - Doorman, 12/15/2009, 6:59 pm
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