What causes the ridiculously resilient Ridge?

The Ridge comprised the western half of a well-defined atmospheric ridge-trough sequence associated with an unusually amplified “North American winter dipole” pattern, which brought persistent anomalous cold and precipitation to the eastern half of North America in addition to record-breaking warmth and drought …

What causes high pressure ridges?

As the hot air rises it cools, losing moisture; it is then transported poleward where it descends, creating the high-pressure area. This is part of the Hadley cell circulation and is known as the subtropical ridge or subtropical high, and is strongest in the summer.

Why does California always have high pressure?

The cold air over the Great Basin (portions of Nevada, Oregon, and Utah) builds up an area of high pressure over the land, while low pressure develops in the North Pacific Ocean.

What years has California been in a drought?

California is no stranger to drought; it is a recurring feature of our climate. We recently experienced the 5-year event of 2012-2016, and other notable historical droughts included 2007-09, 1987-92, 1976-77, and off-and-on dry conditions spanning more than a decade in the 1920s and 1930s.

Is the ridiculously resilient Ridge back?

It appears that the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge has returned during California’s 2020-2021 rainy season. Interestingly, this particular iteration of the Triple R is more reminiscent of the original RRR in its very early days–all the way back in 2013.

What does a high pressure ridge look like?

Low-pressure troughs are identified by brown dashed lines while ridges of high pressure are identified by brown zigzag lines. The majority of inclement weather occurs between the trough and the downwind (eastward) ridge while fair weather occurs between the ridge and the downwind trough.

Why does it never rain in Southern California?

Persistent high pressure shapes many of the world’s subtropical deserts. In California, high pressure during the summer steers storms well clear of the state. During these times, the only sources of moisture that can reach Southern California come from occasional monsoonal storms to the southwest.

What weather does a ridge bring?

Ridges, in weather terminology, are elongated regions of relatively high pressure. These result in dry conditions around them. They can also bring onshore winds resulting in coastal showers. Troughs are known for bringing cool and cloudy weather with them, while ridges usually bring warmer and drier weather.

What is high pressure ridge?

A ridge is an area of high pressure that does not have a closed circulation; it either extends from a high-pressure area or is sandwiched between a couple of lows. More often than not, a ridge of high pressure divides two low-pressure areas.