The first 2 weeks of January probably surprised a lot of cynical winter weather naysayers who seem to always expect “torch” conditions these days. However, with the transition to La Nina and seemingly much easier ability of the tropospheric polar vortex to extend lobes into the subtropics, we saw a lot of snowfall across the Lower 48 except, of course, in two notable locations: New York City and Boston.

We are seeing a growing deficit across California’s mountains with very little precipitation in recent weeks as atmospheric rivers have been directed by the Pacific storm track (and jet) into the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and now into Alaska.