Contrasting weather across the US by Steph Ball
While eastern states of the US have been reeling under a heat wave the last few days, an unusual “winter” storm has brought June snow across the northwest.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued snow warnings and advisories earlier this week as the storm moved east across Washington and Oregon States. Residents of East Oregon woke Monday morning to a scene more akin to winter, with snow blanketing gardens and with white out conditions on the roads. Heavy snow fell in the Cascades forcing trucks crossing the mountain passes to use tyre chains. Meanwhile the Department of Transport announced that it was the first time in 30 years that snowploughs had been used in June to clear Steven’s Pass.
The unusual cold and snowy weather is being attributed to this year’s La Nina, which brought parts of the US their snowiest winter on record. Today the storm has moved on to Montana and Idaho prompting further warnings from the NWS. As much as a foot of snow (12 inches) is forecast.
Across eastern states of the US it has been quite a different story though. Warm moist air from the Gulf has been drawn northwards across the east, bringing heat wave conditions as far north as New York. It looks as though the worst is now over though with showery weather moving east today bringing lower temperatures.