<p>The dynamics and model representation of boreal spring subseasonal variability over North America are examined, focusing on four leading modes identified through empirical orthogonal functions. Mode 1 is active over the high latitudes of the North Pacific, exhibiting a meridional dipole structure. Mode 2 features a localized circulation anomaly over northeastern North America. Modes 3 and 4 are wave-train-like patterns extending from the eastern North Pacific to North America from lower- and mid-latitudes, respectively. Despite a bias in Mode 2, the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (CAM5) reproduces the overall spatiotemporal features and associated temperature and precipitation responses to the subseasonal modes. A scale-resolving quasi-geostrophic geopotential tendency analysis reveals that Modes 1 and 2 develop quasi-stationarily followed by westward movements, primarily driven by vorticity fluxes. Heat fluxes act to maintain the barotropic structure of the related circulation anomalies. Modes 3 and 4 exhibit eastward propagation throughout their lifecycles, explained by both vorticity and heat fluxes. Scale separation indicates that both high- and low-frequency eddy vorticity fluxes explain the formation of Modes 1 and 2, whereas the latter dominates the propagating nature of Modes 3 and 4. These dynamical characteristics are well replicated in CAM5. The bias in Mode 2 is likely attributed to weaker contributions of high-frequency components in CAM5. Further analyses suggest that current models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 also reasonably capture the basic statistics of the subseasonal modes, lending confidence in using them for the study and prediction of long-lasting weather and climate extremes.</p>