What is an Alberta Clipper?

Q: What is an Alberta Clipper?

A: Alberta Clippers race east and southeast from western Canada. These storms can produce periods of heavier precipitation. However, due to their small size and rapid movement, the duration of precipitation is fairly short compared to most storm systems. Moisture sources from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico are shut off in advance of a “clipper system”. Therefore, the total amount of precipitation is limited.