Blinding snow - What's an Alberta Clipper?

On Tuesday, blowing snow in Massachusetts made for difficult driving conditions as an Alberta Clipper started to bring heavy snow and gusty winds to New England.

Blinding snow made driving difficult in East Longmeadow, Mass., as an Alberta clipper moved closer on Tuesday. This fast-moving system can be seen on the WeatherRadar and is bringing snow and gusty winds to the upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast.

But what is an Alberta Clipper? It is a fast-moving area of low pressure that moves southeast out of the Canadian Province of Alberta into the Plains or Midwest. The term "clipper" comes from the name of the fast-moving ships of the 19th century, which were known for their speed. Alberta Clippers are common during the winter months, and the gusty winds associated with these systems can enhance lake-effect snow bands along the Great Lakes.

This storm will bring 1-2 feet of lake-effect snow to the snow belts, with lower accumulations across New England. Bursts of snow combined with gusty winds will create blizzard or blizzard-like conditions at times. Keep an eye on the WeatherRadar and avoid travel in whiteout conditions.