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What would the climate of the West Coast of the U.S be if the Sierras and Rocky Mountain ranges did NOT exist and the entire West was mostly flat with just a few smaller mountains and hills scattered here and there throughout? The California current would remain intact though and the Pacific SST would be the same as they are now year round.
I think the Pacific Coast would have stronger arctic outbreaks due to there being no mountains to protect them. LA's record low would be like 10C colder or around -10 to -15C or so. Winter averages would be slightly colder to reflect arctic outbreaks by maybe 3C
I think the Pacific Coast would have stronger arctic outbreaks due to there being no mountains to protect them. LA's record low would be like 10C colder or around -10 to -15C or so. Winter averages would be slightly colder to reflect arctic outbreaks by maybe 3C
Seattle and Vancouver would also be somewhat colder in winter, assuming the Coast and Cascade mountains are gone too. Arctic air could come spilling down from the Yukon unimpeded instead of having to squeeze through narrow gaps in the Coast Mountains such as the Fraser Canyon. Although without mountains blocking mild Pacific air, northern Canada might be much milder, reducing the possibility of extreme lows along the West Coast.
Do the Olympics and cascades exist? Also I assuming that the sierras and the Rockies would still exist just much shorter something similar to the Willapa Hills, the shortest mountain range making up the pacific coast ranges. The tallest peak is only 3,114 ft tall. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willapa_Hills
These mountains would not cast any rain shadows. Inland west would as a result be much wetter and also milder since the mild air from the ocean would reach further inland, however the coast would see much colder record lows. the Western US would look very similar to Europe, except the warm climates wouldn't reach as far north.
SoCal would definitely be a wetter Csa climate, akin to Perth. Summers might see some rain too. Winters would be a bit more cooler. Snow might be recorded inland, and frost would be more common.
Location: Live:Downtown Phoenix, AZ/Work:Greater Los Angeles, CA
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My theory, is due to prevailing winds in the mid latitudes, arctic outbreaks would still not effect the west same as now, but there wouldn't be the "Sideways S patterns" in the jet stream that we see now.
Further, the southwestern deserts either wouldn't exist, or would be confined to 33° latitude southward. I suspect the climate of Phoenix would be close to Riverside, CA currently. And LA&San Diego would be more like Perth, with interior air able to get in more often during the warm season.
Seattle and Vancouver would also be somewhat colder in winter, assuming the Coast and Cascade mountains are gone too. Arctic air could come spilling down from the Yukon unimpeded instead of having to squeeze through narrow gaps in the Coast Mountains such as the Fraser Canyon. Although without mountains blocking mild Pacific air, northern Canada might be much milder, reducing the possibility of extreme lows along the West Coast.
Yeah Vancouver's record low in this scenario would be close to -30C aND averages would be roughly NYC in winter. There would be nothing to stop Arctic air from the interior reaching the coast at almost full strength. That's not to say that it would not be prevailing we sterling creating a marine climate but that it would be more unstable withe more polar outbreaks in winter.
Location: Live:Downtown Phoenix, AZ/Work:Greater Los Angeles, CA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deneb78
Yeah Vancouver's record low in this scenario would be close to -30C aND averages would be roughly NYC in winter. There would be nothing to stop Arctic air from the interior reaching the coast at almost full strength. That's not to say that it would not be prevailing we sterling creating a marine climate but that it would be more unstable withe more polar outbreaks in winter.
Prevailing winds in the mid latitudes would not allow Arctic air westward
Our weather always comes from the west, north or south, never from east to west does it? So I'm not sure how California's weather would be affected by the mountains not being there. Logically I'm assuming states east of the Rockies would be different.
Prevailing winds in the mid latitudes would not allow Arctic air westward
If there is the right set up with the Jetstream it can absolutely happen and has happened. Check out January 1950 in Seattle and Vancouver. Without any mountains, it would have been even colder
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