Weather Update

Through A.D. 2008 February 04:

Days with snow cover: 72
Days with complete snow cover: 30
Total snowfall: 71 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 20 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -17º Celsius

The last few weeks have been odd. There were about 10 days in the middle of January that were nice and cold, but we only had two centimeters of snow during that period. Even then, most of that snow melted soon after it fell. The final week of January was characterized by high temperatures between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius. We had a significant ice storm on Friday, February 01. That storm marked our third significant ice storm of the season and our fifth overall. Considering that we only had freezing rain twice in the previous three winters, five in the first half of one winter is exceptional. Even more incredible is the possibility that we'll have a sixth instance tonight!

The insanely horrible first half of the winter of A.D. 2006-2007 was about as crappy as a winter could be. However, the second half of the winter was about as good as a winter could be. So far this winter, out of a possible 9 weeks of winter weather, we've had three weeks with significant snow cover and cold, two weeks with very little snow cover and cold, and four weeks with neither snow cover nor cold. If you factor in the upcoming week, which is supposed to be between 5 and 10 degrees C., we're looking at a winter where 50% of the time has been "like winter" and 50% of it has been like "damned Virginia winter" as I call it. Even though the forecast says that it is going to remain in that 5 degrees C. range, I sure hope that the weathermen are wrong and that we can get enough snow and cold in February to play some more hockey and do some more snowshoeing. Every year Canadian winters look more attractive to me...

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2008 January 27:

Days with snow cover: 64
Days with complete snow cover: 29
Total snowfall: 70 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 20 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -17º Celsius

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2008 January 23:

Days with snow cover: 60
Days with complete snow cover: 29
Total snowfall: 68 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 20 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -17º Celsius

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2008 January 17:

Days with snow cover: 54
Days with complete snow cover: 29
Total snowfall: 66 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 20 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -17º Celsius

It appears that our unseasonably warm weather pattern is finally coming to an end. From December 22 through January 15, we had only three days at or below 0 degrees Celsius. That's almost three and a half weeks of unseasonably warm weather in the middle of winter. I hope it's that last of that kind of weather until spring comes. I keep waiting for the ponds to refreeze and for enough snow to go snowshoeing!

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2008 January 08:

Days with snow cover: 50
Days with complete snow cover: 27
Total snowfall: 62 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 20 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -17º Celsius

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2008 January 04:

Days with snow cover: 46
Days with complete snow cover: 26
Total snowfall: 62 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 20 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -17º Celsius

The three previous days have all been below 0º Celsius, but the next eleven (including today) are supposed to be well above normal (high temperatures around 5-10º Celsius). If the forecast holds true, we will have had 23 days since the last cold period, and three days will have had high temperatures below 0º. More and more this winter is mimicking the winter of A.D. 2005/2006. It is truly amazing how similar they have been so far.

Weather Update

Through A.D. 2008 January 01:

Days with snow cover: 43
Days with complete snow cover: 23
Total snowfall: 59 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 20 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -12º Celsius

The winter of A.D. 2007/2008 came in like a lion, but the last 10 days have been more like a lamb. Since A.D. 2007 December 22 we've had 0 days with high temperatures at or below 0 degrees C. The first 22 days of December saw 21 days with high temperatures at or below that mark. The next three days promise to be the coldest days of the season to date, but we are forecast to have at least a week with temperatures from 5 to 10 degrees C. above normal after that. More and more this year is shaping up to be like A.D. 2005/2006. I just hope that cold temperatures return before February 06!

The complete statistics for this winter through A.D. 2007 December 31 are as follows:

First light frost: A.D. 2007 September 17
First hard frost: A.D. 2007 October 29
First snow: A.D. 2007 October 28
First snow cover: A.D. 2007 November 16
Days with snow cover: 42
Days with complete snow cover: 22
Total snowfall: 57 centimeters
Maximum snow depth: 20 centimeters
Maximum low temperature: -12º Celsius
Snow on Christmas? No