Gulf Low

A Gulf Low develops when a favorable area of lift in the atmosphere reaches the Gulf of Mexico and pressure begins to deepen. The moist air in the Gulf allows for development to continue, and many times a strong storm will develop. Gulf lows are associated with many of WNC’s large snowstorms over the past years, and when models begin to show their development during the winter months, many take note. Depending on how strong the blocking high pressure is to the North & East will determine how much cold air is available, but Gulf lows bring a strong push of moisture up from the South. An ideal track for winter weather in WNC would be for the low pressure to meander along the Gulf Coast and then transfer to the Atlantic of the Coast of NC. If the low pressure deepens too much, too much warm air will push into WNC, and a strong warm nose will melt snowflakes as they fall through the atmosphere.