Trouble of a strange weather pattern is afoot across the United States. Hence, It is called omega block, an omega. Usually, the jet stream, responsible for picking up and moving storms quickly to the east, has bent into the shape of an omega. This shape also helps slow down weather systems and keep them stuck over the same areas for many days.
It is like a large rock in a river with smooth water around it. Water cannot flow directly, and flows slowly around the block. Much the same, the omega block slows down storm systems and prevents the clearing of rain clouds over parts of the country.
Days of Rain in the Northeast
The round after round of rain is having effect on the Northeast US thanks to the omega block. The rain is not a deluge in one day, but accumulated over days. Wet weather really won’t stop in New York, Hartford, New Haven or Bridgeport.
That increase in the risk of flash floods could cause some areas to get 3 to 5 inches of rain. The biggest problem is waters that quickly run off rapidly at urban hillsides that flooding streets and basements.
An important part of the storm system responsible is one that has been stuck over the Tennessee and Ohio valleys, scooping in moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. The moisture feeds the clouds, as it keeps the rain going in the Northeast.
Flood Risk Grows in Cities
And the cities at the worst risk are New York City, Poughkeepsie, Stamford, Waterbury and New London. Because they have many paved surfaces, these places are especially vulnerable. Water cannot soak into concrete and therefore it becomes full and causes flooding.
Residents are being warned to prepare. They can happen with little warning; flash floods. In fact, people should watch weather alerts, not driving through flooded roads.
Why This Is a Problem
Spring rain is normally welcome in the Northeast. This region has been dry for months, some areas. Sure, too much rain, too quickly, is problematic even in dry places. Water cannot be absorbed by the ground fast enough. Floods affect lowlying areas and rivers.
In addition, because the weather system is blocked, storms won’t make their way out quickly. So people are going to be enduring wet and somewhat cloudy and sometimes stormy weather for longer than usual.
Southern States Hit Too
Omega block is not just a problem in Northeast. In addition, it’s producing big storms and flooding in the Southern Plains such as Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. In a few days, it is raining half a foot all over these areas.
The slow moving pattern makes the storm worse because the South is use to spring storms. Flooding is fast because the chance of it increases greatly when rain falls on already soaked ground.
A Strange Weather Week
The unusual temperatures are also being caused by this blocked pattern. Some places are hotter in the Northern Plains than in the Desert Southwest. Las Vegas, for example, may not cool off to temperatures above 70°F (21°C) in a few days. In the meantime, Montana and Minnesota will likely be in the 70s or 80s. That is just another sign of how unusual this way of the weather setup up.
Final Thoughts
For millions, this week’s weather has been hard to handle because of the omega block pattern. It’s a dangerous reality in the Northeast US as vile rain continues to pour down day after day. Their advice is to stay alert and prepare for some possible flooding. Listen to local weather updates and don’t let bad weather tempt you.
These chance fronts should ultimately break, but in the meantime, there’s more rain, more clouds, and more disruptions to come for the region.
