Weather Update

Through A.D. 2010 December 27:

Days with snow cover:  029

Days with complete snow cover:  018

Total snowfall: 021 centimeters

Maximum snow depth: 09 centimeters
Greatest snow event: 08 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: 07º Fahrenheit (about -14º Celsius)

Well, we finally got some snow!  Even though the forecast said "less than a half inch of snow expected," we ended up with more than three inches!  Along with the snow we've had cold temperatures (two consecutive days with a high temperature of 16ºF.) and sustained high winds.  To be honest, it's been pretty miserable out.  I look forward to getting out in the snow, but I won't have much time to do so.  After tomorrow, we're forecast to have 9 straight days of temperatures significantly (40s and 50s F.) above freezing.  I'm very excited about the snow, but why couldn't we have gotten it at the beginning of the month, when we would've had 30 straight days to enjoy it?!

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2010 December 25:

Days with snow cover:  027

Days with complete snow cover:  016

Total snowfall: 013 centimeters

Maximum snow depth: 03 centimeters
Greatest snow event: 02.5 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: 07º Fahrenheit (about -14º Celsius)

Well, we had the closest thing we've had in seven Christmases to a white Christmas.  It was cold, and the day commenced with somewhat less than 1 cm of snow on the ground.  However, we got about a centimeter (and a half?) during the day, giving it a nice wintry feeling.  Good stuff.

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2010 December 23:

Days with snow cover:  025

Days with complete snow cover:  014

Total snowfall: 012 centimeters

Maximum snow depth: 03 centimeters
Greatest snow event: 02.5 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: 07º Fahrenheit (about -14º Celsius)

It looks like we'll have a "white" Christmas...kinda.  Apparently the government defines a white Christmas as having at least 1 inch of snow on the ground.  We won't have that, but we will have a white Christmas by the measure I've used since I've been keeping track.  We HAD exactly two centimeters yesterday morning.  Some of that melted during the day yesterday, but I doubt we'll lose any more before Saturday.

This has been the coldest December I've experienced out of 7 total in New York.  We have had three days with high temperatures above freezing, and two of those were in the low 30s.  The rest have been in the 20s or 10s.  The temperatures have been great, but we haven't had any snow (less than five inches this season) to speak of.

The one huge positive about this Christmas is that it looks like it will remain cold through Christmas.  Every year that I've been here we have had a significant warm spell just before or on Christmas day.  We have had 11 consecutive days below freezing through the 23rd, and we're forecast to have at least another four or five.  It's good stuff.

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2010 December 15:

Days with snow cover:  017

Days with complete snow cover:  011

Total snowfall: 011 centimeters

Maximum snow depth: 03 centimeters
Greatest snow event: 02.5 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: 07º Fahrenheit (about -14º Celsius)

"As is usual, areas around us get hammered with lake-effect snow and we have less than an inch on the ground."

The above statement from last week is true again this week.  Travel 5-10 miles to our east and, instead of less than an inch, they have a foot of snow on the ground.

...by the way, a string of nine consecutive days with complete snow cover (albeit less than an inch) ended last Saturday (December 11).  All it took was a single day above freezing to wipe out all of the snow that wasn't in deep shade.  In addition to ending a string of nine consecutive days with complete snow cover, it was the first time since the morning of December 01 that the temperature reached into the 30s.  It rained all day Sunday before turning cold again Monday.  A dusting of snow Monday night was combined with a couple of centimeters last night, leaving us back where we were last week: cold (for December; highs in the teens and low 20s) with a little bit of snow.

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2010 December 08:

Days with snow cover:  010

Days with complete snow cover:  007

Total snowfall: 007 centimeters

Maximum snow depth: 03 centimeters
Greatest snow event: 02.5 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: ???

As is usual, areas around us get hammered with lake-effect snow and we have less than an inch on the ground.

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2010 December 04:

First light frost:  2010 October 09
First hard frost:  2010 October 09
First snowfall:  2010 October 31
First snow accumulation:  2010 November 01
Days with snow cover:  006

Days with complete snow cover:  003

First day with a high temperature at or below 0º Celsius (32º Fahrenheit):  2010 December 02

First day with complete snow cover:  2010 December 02 

Total snowfall: 005 centimeters

Maximum snow depth: 03 centimeters
Greatest snow event: 02.5 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: ???

Well, our first "real" snow came on A.D. 2010 December 01.  Though the day started with rain, it ended with exactly one inch of snow.  The following three days have been below freezing, and the complete snow cover has remained.  In other words, winter arrived on December 01.

Weather Update

Well, the past month proved to be a very normal November October.  Temperatures in the 40s and 50s, two very light dustings of snow, a couple of days in the 30s...  Yep, it was just about a perfect October.  Too bad it was November.  A.D. 2010 November proved to be the warmest, least snowiest November in the seven since I've lived here.  We may end up with some snow cover tonight, but it's too early to tell.