A punishing storm has much of the U.S. bracing for severe winter weather. So what is an Alberta Clipper? And what should those in its path be expecting?

As a fast-moving system is expected to bring some plowable snow to Vermont, Northern New York and much of New England this week, many might be wondering what an Alberta Clipper is. We break down what this term means and where it comes from.

An Alberta clipper is cutting its way through the northern United States and bringing a lot of snow to the Mohawk Valley.

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The snow that will be impacting western Massachusetts Wednesday night is what meteorologists call an Alberta clipper. As snow is in the forecast for tonight into Thursday morning, this snow will not be from a coastal low-pressure system but from an Alberta clipper.

A winter weather event known as an Alberta Clipper will descend from Canada later this week and roll across the northern tier, potentially bringing snow to at least 12 states from the Dakotas to New England.

An Alberta Clipper is a low pressure system that rapidly moves from western Canada, deriving its name from the Canadian Province of Alberta. It travels into the Northern Plains, the Midwest and the Great Lakes. An Alberta Clipper draws down cold Canadian air and typically brings snow, cold temperatures and strong winds.

Meteorologist Matt DiLoreto explains what an Alberta Clipper is and where the name originated. A relative of Vladimir Putin has accidentally let slip secret Kremlin data that reveals Russia’s losses in its war in Ukraine.

There are a few creative names meteorologists use to denote snow storms that originate in central Canada. FOX Weather Meteorologist Haley Meier shows some of those names and their origin.