World and Nation

Winter wallops west; Cambridge avoids the worst wild weather

The unusual dry spell that defined this winter for most of the continental U.S. broke last week as the Jet Stream resumed its more typical pattern. Heavy precipitation poured throughout the West and parts of New England, delighting skiers but resulting in slick roads and avalanches in mountainous areas.

Looking upward, the strongest solar storm since 2003 rages on, producing vibrant examples of aurora borealis (Northern Lights) visible in northern latitudes. According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, such storms can result in power surges and interference in broadcasting.

Cambridge can expect temperatures near freezing, with some precipitation but nothing major within the next few days.