What is a clipper?
![](https://www.kaaltv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alberta-clipper.png)
It’s a term that pops up quite a bit in our forecasts over the winter. An Alberta Clipper is a storm system that moves from, you got it, Alberta, and moves east-southeast into the Midwest. These storms don’t have a plentiful supply of moisture and are fast-moving systems, so snowfall totals are usually on the low end. 1-3″ of snow is more common out of a clipper.
![](https://www.kaaltv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Alberta-clipper-1024x576.png)
Larger storm systems that can have a more significant impact on the Midwest come our way from the southwest. They can be referred to as a Panhandle Hook, Texas Hook, or Colorado Low, depending on where the storm comes from once its east of the Rockies and can tap into more moisture.
![](https://www.kaaltv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Panhandle-Hook-1024x576.png)