Alberta Clipper

noun

variants or less commonly Alberta clipper

meteorology

: a fast-moving low-pressure weather system that develops east of the Rocky Mountains in western Canada during winter months and moves to the east-southeast across central Canada and into the northern U.S.

Note: An Alberta Clipper typically brings very cold temperatures, high winds, and light snowfall amounts.

Expect another Alberta Clipper to move through southeastern Wisconsin this afternoon and tonight with about 1 to 2 inches of snow and then flurries on Saturday.

—Brian Gotter

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above