Winter Storm Julia Makes Headlines Across Eastern Europe! (credit: Meteo Europe)

DISCUSSION: As a low pressure system kept pushing across central Europe, the combination of a highly amplified trough-ridge pattern helped to facilitate the rapid intensification of this storm.  As clearly seen in the faint visible satellite image above,  you can see the gorgeous comma-head structure associated with this extra-tropical cyclone as it maintains its mature cyclone status for a brief time.  Beyond a short time, it is projected to de-amplify due to less favorable upper-level jet support and a breakdown of the former temperature gradient which bolstered its intensification process.  It is worth noting that although extra-tropical cyclones often do not have the ability to intensify in this part of the world due to a persistent cold advection scheme in place, there are some minor exceptions to this rule.  This is especially found to be the case when high pressure systems across southern and southeastern Europe facilitate the northward transport of warm, moist Mediterranean air towards east-central Europe where warm air sometimes clashes with colder air; facilitating the increased likelihood of low-to-mid-level frontogenesis. 

To learn more about other high-impact weather events from across Europe, be sure to click here!

~Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz