26 February 2011

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2011 February 26:

Days with snow cover: 090
Days with complete snow cover: 071
Total snowfall: 117 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 30 centimeters (12 inches)
Greatest snow event: 20 centimeters (8 inches)
Maximum low temperature: -12º Fahrenheit (about -24.4º Celsius)

On Friday, A.D. 2011 February 25, a storm dropped 8 inches of snow.  It was our largest snow event of the season, and the average snow depth is around a foot.

23 February 2011

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2011 February 23:

Days with snow cover: 087
Days with complete snow cover: 068
Total snowfall: 097 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 30 centimeters (12 inches)
Greatest snow event: 10 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -12º Fahrenheit (about -24.4º Celsius)

New greatest snow event...four inches!  The 5-9 inches that were forecast turned out to be exactly four inches (about 10 cm).  That's a pretty small "storm," but - incredibly - it is the largest storm we've had this year.  After losing almost all twelve inches of snow we had last week, eight inches accumulated in the next three days.

Two of the past three days the highs have been in the mid teens, the other day was in the low twenties.  Today's supposed to be around freezing.  As I type this it is three degrees below zero.

20 February 2011

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2011 February 20:

Days with snow cover: 084
Days with complete snow cover: 065
Total snowfall: 087 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 30 centimeters (12 inches)
Greatest snow event: 09 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -12º Fahrenheit (about -24.4º Celsius)

Last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were the warmest days since last November!  Wednesday was about 45, Thursday was about 50, and Friday was just shy of 60.  We held on to complete snow cover until Friday, when almost all of the remaining snow melted.  We thought the warmth was going to last a while (high temperatures were forecast to remain above freezing), but it starting snowing early Saturday morning.  The temperature remained steady in the teens and we ended up with another three and a half inches of snow - tied for our largest storm of the season.  Today's high temperature was in the low-to-mid twenties, but we're supposed to get 5-9 inches of snow tonight and head right back into the icebox for the rest of the week.  So much for that forecast!

P.S. I'm going to edit the maximum snow depth and change it to 12 inches.  I'm not sure that we ever had exactly one foot on the ground, but we must have been damned close.  It was hard to get an accurate measurement with all of the drifting that occurred.

14 February 2011

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2011 February 13:

Days with snow cover: 077
Days with complete snow cover: 059
Total snowfall: 078 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 26.7 centimeters (10.5 inches)
Greatest snow event: 09 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -12º Fahrenheit (about -24.4º Celsius)

It warmed up Sunday, February 13 and stayed warm throughout the night.  While we still have complete snow cover, more snow melted Sunday and Sunday night than in the previous month! 

By the way, it was below zero again Friday morning.  Even though the next week is forecast to be warm, it has been one cold winter.

06 February 2011

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2011 February 06:

Days with snow cover: 070
Days with complete snow cover: 052
Total snowfall: 072 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 26.7 centimeters (10.5 inches)
Greatest snow event: 09 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -12º Fahrenheit (about -24.4º Celsius)

The big storm we were supposed to get proved to be a dud.  A grand total of 4 centimeters (less than 2 inches) of snow and sleet accumulated.  The rest of the storm consisted of rain and freezing rain.  After the storm passed, we actually had less snow on the ground than before it started.  Since then, a couple of storms have come through.  Neither were particularly substantial.  We received a centimeter of snow a few days ago.  Yesterday, a storm originally forecast to drop 5 to 8 inches of snow ended up starting as rain, transitioning to freezing rain, and finally dropping 3 centimeters of snow.  It marked the second time in a week that the weathermen have screwed up a forecast within six hours of the storm's arrival.

The freezing rain we had with the past two storms was the only freezing rain we've had this season.  We normally don't get a lot - a couple of storms a year is normal.  Neither of this season's icings have been significant, but that's normal too.

P.S. I don't think the snow depth is any greater than 10.5 inches, but it might be.  We've lost a few inches of snow but we've gained a few inches as well.  I'll measure later and edit this post if necessary.

01 February 2011

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2011 February 01:

Days with snow cover: 065
Days with complete snow cover: 047
Total snowfall: 064 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 26.7 centimeters (10.5 inches)
Greatest snow event: 09 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -12º Fahrenheit (about -24.4º Celsius)

We had about 3.5 inches (about 9 centimeters) of snow last night.  It was tied for our largest snowfall of the season - three storms have dropped as much.  Tonight we're supposed to get a storm that is much more significant, but as I type this the snow has already turned to sleet.  The current forecast on http://www.weather.com/ says we're going to get 6-10 inches of snow, but I think those totals are unlikely.

As an aside, there is now more than ten inches of snow on the ground.  Even though we haven't had any large storms this year, the cold weather has made it possible for the small snow totals to add up.  I'm lamenting my lack of downhill skis.