Weird weather (serious awnsers)?

Question

dont just say global warming. this time last year in wyoming it was really hot. barely ever raind.this year its freaking cold and its been raing alot and even a little snow, can someone give me a scientifical explanation

Answer 1

It's a result of natural variability of weather patterns, which tend to work in cycles of various time periods.  Lately, the northern hemispheric circulation pattern has been unusually active with several strong low pressure systems with unseasonable cold air coming off the northeast Pacific Ocean across the northern part of the country.  It is unusual but not unprecedented.

Answer 2

Last year, a strong ridge of high pressure positioned right over the northern rockies and remained fairly persistent for weeks on out.  This was a result of upper level wind/weather patterns that result from ocean temps/jet positioning.

This year, the ridge has been for the most part located over the southwest U.S.   As a result, troughs (sfc fronts also) have had better access to push east along the north side of high pressure thru the northern rockies and then sweep thru the midwest.  This has created a nice recipe for a record breaking severe weather season.  The reason is likely ocean temperature fluxations from last year.  As these systems roll thru your state, they usher in cooler air from Canada which is called cold air advection.  Last year was just the opposite, as warm air advection occured for much of June/July.

Answer 3

Weather always varies. It really has to do with where the jet stream is. (an belt of air a few miles up from the earth with winds going at about 300 mph) Different area of air pressure effect where the jet stream flows, and the result is the differentiating weather. The area north of the the jet stream is cooler (the further away from the jet stream, the more extreme the temperature is, respectfully), and the area south is, obviously, warmer. (the southern hemisphere has a jet stream too, just flipped with the north and south temps.)

The jet stream will go in a pattern with the different seasons (the sun does affect it) but it will always vary, that is how we get averages. In due time, it will warm up in WY. =)

Answer 4

The weather varies from year to year, always has, always will. Our weather data is so limited that we have no real idea what normal weather patterns around the world should be for a given set of circumstances.

Only in the last decade has weather been understood well enough to make an accurate two day forecast. In the past weathermen guessed what might happen and hoped for the best. If weather was stable, after thousands of years of watching it, we would automatically know what each day's weather would be like.

We like to think we know what is going on, it gives us the feeling of control. Weather used to be in the hands of the Gods, now its in the hands of Global Warming. Yesterday the world was flat, now its round.