Labrador/Gulf Stream Clash Cause East Thermal Climate

Warm Gulf Stream/Cold Labrador Current Modulate Late Spring Climate in the East U.S.

Cool Labrador Current Squashes any Boston Heat Risk in June into July

Discussion: Yet another cool surge of ocean air into the New England coast as June began yesterday with widespread lowering visibilities as a fog bank along the coast rolled inland. In Boston during May there were 10 days when temperatures could not get out of the 50’s and 19 days below 70F.

Fig. 1: An extremely warm Gulf Stream off the U.S. East Coast clashes with an equally impressive cold Labrador Current east of New England.

Contrast that persistent chill with relentless heat in the Southeast to Mid-Atlantic States. Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA were a torrid 6.3F above normal. Columbia, SC observed maximum temperature of 97-101F the last 8 days of May. Contributing the stark contrast in thermal regimes to finish meteorological spring and likely to continue into early summer is the much warmer than normal ocean surface off the U.S. East Coast inspired by a robust Gulf Stream clashing with an equally impressive cold Labrador Current pushing into East-central New England.

Fig. 2: Water surface off the U.S. East Coast to start June is very warm and serves as a reflection of the upper air pattern driving the climate regime which was very warm in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast U.S. in May. Conversely the cold Labrador Current was cooler than normal inspiring the chilly coastal New England climate for late spring.

Fig. 3: Looking at all models the Boston max/min forecast looks cool well into June.