Create a story about a blizzard that travels across the United States. Explain how global wind patterns contribute to its path and intensity.
Instructor solution
Once upon a time, a cold air mass from the Arctic began its journey southward, driven by the polar easterlies. As it moved over the Great Plains, it encountered a warm, moist air mass from the Gulf of Mexico. The collision of these air masses, influenced by the prevailing westerlies, led to the formation of a blizzard. The westerlies carried the blizzard eastward, intensifying as it absorbed more moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. The jet stream further guided its path, causing heavy snowfall and strong winds across the northeastern United States before it finally dissipated.
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