Transition seasons bring a lot of ups and downs with them

 
Over the last month there have been quite a few ups and downs in the temperature department. A couple days in March reached 80 degrees, only to be followed by a cool down a couple days later. The start of April also featured a quick jump in temperatures when on the 1st the high was only 45 degrees, but then on the 2nd warmed to 71. Temperatures so far have been a bit of the cooler side.

But why do we tend to see these types of ups and downs during the Spring and Fall seasons? Well, it has to do with our jet stream and the battle between the cold air to the north and warm air to the south. The Spring and Fall months are known as 'transition' seasons. We are transitioning out of Winter into Summer, and then from Summer into Winter. It's usually during this time that we often experience an uptick in not only storms, but wind and a lot more variable weather.

The jet stream is our main driving force for our weather. Think of the jet stream as a highway, pushing storm systems across the globe. Within the jet stream there are concentrated areas of stronger winds, known as jet streaks. Often times these jet streaks can lead to areas of low pressure developing at the surface.

Jet stream winds are strongest during the winter season as there is a greater difference in temperatures from north to south, but the winds can also be strong during the transition seasons as the warm air tries to move in and cold air begins to retreat north. Low pressure systems that develop as a result of this difference will grow in strength the stronger the jet winds are aloft. This will lead to a greater pull of warm air north, ahead of the low, and a greater push of cold behind the low - leading to big temperature swings.

Eventually this imbalance will even out, causing our temperatures to remain a little more stable - and warmer - as we near the summer season.