Stronger jet, weaker storms: a mechanistic perspective on the Atlantic-Pacific storm paradox
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The Atlantic and Pacific storm tracks are regions of enhanced storm activity that shape the Northern Hemisphere climate. Basic theory predicts that stronger jet streams should accompany stronger storm activity. However, despite the Pacific jet being stronger in winter, Atlantic storms are more intense – a puzzling observation that has long challenged our understanding of midlatitude climate. Here, we address this paradox by examining how jet orientation affects interactions with midlatitude storms. Using 84 years of ERA5 data and winter storm tracks (validated with JRA-3Q), we show that the Pacific jet’s zonal structure causes storms to exit high-intensity jet regions rapidly. Conversely, the Atlantic jet’s tilted orientation aligns with storm trajectories, allowing storms to remain in high-intensity jet regions longer. Lagrangian energetic analyses reveal that while Pacific storms exhibit rapid initial growth, Atlantic storms remain longer in stronger baroclinic regions, enabling greater energy extraction, sustained growth, and higher peak intensities. These findings reconcile Northern Hemisphere winter storm activity with the energetic perspective on midlatitude climate and highlight the importance of representing individual storm dynamics for understanding present and future climates. Atlantic winter storms are stronger than Pacific storms despite a weaker jet stream, seemingly contradicting basic theory. This study shows that this stems from the Atlantic jet’s meridional tilt, which aligns with storm tracks and enables greater storm intensification.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Or Hadas, Yohai Kaspi
Institution: Weizmann Institute of Science
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Funder: Azrieli Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W7155038557