Meteorological Spring Has Arrived!
Meteorological winter has come to an end. It has been a season of extraordinary learning accompanied by many, many snow measurements. Since the last blog entry it has snowed seven times and I've taken at least twice as many measurements. Twenty-one inches of snow fell this February at OSNW3 which is more than double the average snowfall for Oshkosh. We maintained almost a ten inch snow depth for the month but not with out a complete melt down over a seven day stretch with temperatures topping the freezing mark to start the second half. The final week knocked the spring fever out of the air reminding all of us winter really wasn't over. March looks to be an active month trending toward the wintry side peaking near the end of the month with the fourth iteration of the Great Lakes Cyclone. Spring will be delayed a few weeks compared to last year with our first real taste not until the second week of April. March Forecast – Based on Lezak’s Recurring Cycle - Jeremy Nelson WeatherWatch 12
(OSNW3 Weather Brief)
(OSNW3 February Observations)
(OSNW3 February 2011 Summary)
(click on graph for the month summary data - it will open a new tab/window)
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Weekly Snowfall
Accumulating snowfall on 7 of the last 18 days has dropped 13.1 inches of new snow. Over half of that total came from one snowfall but the last snowfall of the month proved to be the most significant as it became the most peaceful of the winter.
(Feb 12, 2011 - 0.2")
(Feb 13, 2011 - 0.2")
(Feb 21, 2011 - 7.9")
(Feb 22, 2011 - 1.4")
(Feb 24, 2011 - 0.1")
(Feb 26, 2011 - 0.2")
(Feb 27, 2011 - 3.2")
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Meteorological Winter
The months of December, January, and February make up the most wonderful time of the year for snow lovers. With the La Nina influence and atmospheric conditions ripe for snowfall, this season did not fail to represent the "all that is good" for winter long interests. This meteorological winter lands itself in the top ten of all-time snowiest winters in Oshkosh recording 50.1 inches of snow and in the top five all-time in Oshkosh for days with measurable snowfall. Temperature wise OSNW3 recorded a mean temp of 18.8°F, a degree below the all-time average which puts this winter at 37 out of 118 for all-time coldest winters in Oshkosh. For a comprehensive list of precipitation observation stations in Winnebago County for this meteorological winter season please click here.
(Oshkosh Met Winter Snowfall Total - 1970-2011)
(Oshkosh Met Winter Days with Snowfall - 1970-2011)
"It snowed more when I was younger." Depending on what generation one is are from, the statement is probably a correct statement. Analyzing the two graphs above it is evident that during the 1970's it was snowing more frequently and yielding larger totals than all of the 1980's, 1990's and the first half of the 2000's. The past four seasons in Oshkosh have been on an upward trend looking to out snow the 1970's. I, for one, enjoy the trend and I hope it continues into the 2010's.
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Seasonal Snowfall
The recent sounds of heavy machinery moving snow from the sides of the roads during the late night early morning hours have been heard throughout the entire north side of Oshkosh. Rightfully so. With March promising to be wintry, the old snow must be removed so the new snow can pile up. So far the 2010-11 snow season at OSNW3 has recorded 50.3 inches in 34 days of measurable snowfall. Both of these numbers look to rise through March and probably early April. OSNW3 has been in the grasp of Old Man Winter for 74 days and counting, starting back on Dec 18, 2010.
(OSNW3 Seasonal Snowfall 2006-2011)
(OSNW3 Seasonal Snowdepth 2006-2011)
(OSNW3 Winter Season Duration 2010-2011)
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Front Of House
Our neighbors have been generously helping the entire neighborhood move snow when the plows push the large amounts of street snow into our driveways. Our front yard is caked in snowblower blown snow. I am guessing it will take a week or two longer to melt all the snow in the front yard versus the back yard. I will be keeping tabs on it.
(FOH - Feb 27, 2011)
(OSNW3 Weather Brief)
(OSNW3 February Observations)
(OSNW3 February 2011 Summary)
(click on graph for the month summary data - it will open a new tab/window)
----
Weekly Snowfall
Accumulating snowfall on 7 of the last 18 days has dropped 13.1 inches of new snow. Over half of that total came from one snowfall but the last snowfall of the month proved to be the most significant as it became the most peaceful of the winter.
(Feb 12, 2011 - 0.2")
(Feb 13, 2011 - 0.2")
(Feb 21, 2011 - 7.9")
(Feb 22, 2011 - 1.4")
(Feb 24, 2011 - 0.1")
(Feb 26, 2011 - 0.2")
(Feb 27, 2011 - 3.2")
----
Meteorological Winter
The months of December, January, and February make up the most wonderful time of the year for snow lovers. With the La Nina influence and atmospheric conditions ripe for snowfall, this season did not fail to represent the "all that is good" for winter long interests. This meteorological winter lands itself in the top ten of all-time snowiest winters in Oshkosh recording 50.1 inches of snow and in the top five all-time in Oshkosh for days with measurable snowfall. Temperature wise OSNW3 recorded a mean temp of 18.8°F, a degree below the all-time average which puts this winter at 37 out of 118 for all-time coldest winters in Oshkosh. For a comprehensive list of precipitation observation stations in Winnebago County for this meteorological winter season please click here.
(Oshkosh Met Winter Snowfall Total - 1970-2011)
(Oshkosh Met Winter Days with Snowfall - 1970-2011)
"It snowed more when I was younger." Depending on what generation one is are from, the statement is probably a correct statement. Analyzing the two graphs above it is evident that during the 1970's it was snowing more frequently and yielding larger totals than all of the 1980's, 1990's and the first half of the 2000's. The past four seasons in Oshkosh have been on an upward trend looking to out snow the 1970's. I, for one, enjoy the trend and I hope it continues into the 2010's.
----
Seasonal Snowfall
The recent sounds of heavy machinery moving snow from the sides of the roads during the late night early morning hours have been heard throughout the entire north side of Oshkosh. Rightfully so. With March promising to be wintry, the old snow must be removed so the new snow can pile up. So far the 2010-11 snow season at OSNW3 has recorded 50.3 inches in 34 days of measurable snowfall. Both of these numbers look to rise through March and probably early April. OSNW3 has been in the grasp of Old Man Winter for 74 days and counting, starting back on Dec 18, 2010.
(OSNW3 Seasonal Snowfall 2006-2011)
(OSNW3 Seasonal Snowdepth 2006-2011)
(OSNW3 Winter Season Duration 2010-2011)
----
Front Of House
Our neighbors have been generously helping the entire neighborhood move snow when the plows push the large amounts of street snow into our driveways. Our front yard is caked in snowblower blown snow. I am guessing it will take a week or two longer to melt all the snow in the front yard versus the back yard. I will be keeping tabs on it.
(FOH - Feb 27, 2011)
For me, it's certainly been an informative winter -- learning the LRC theory and all.
ReplyDeleteHere's to an active summer season. ;)
Chris, I am excited about the chance winter could extend into April.
ReplyDeleteI heard about the longer them normal Winter and I myself and not so much looking foreword to it. To be honest I cringed when I read in your post about no real taste of Spring until the second week of April, This Winter has really worn me down and I'm ready for it to end and for Spring to start.
ReplyDeleteFor TN, winter is history(crocus,daffadils, bradford pear tree ready to bloom) . But, it has been a colder and a snowier winter down here...More near what alot of old-timers remember winters being like. The trade-off is we have a longer, hotter grass-mowing season which can make us long for summer to be gone. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteD, our tastes of spring are different I am sure. I had a taste of spring the other morning, clear, crisp (below freezing) with the sounds of birds chirping and woodpeckers pecking. The warm sun on my face coupled with the sounds made me think of spring and that it is not long until old man winter retires for another year.
ReplyDeleteSuzieE, indeed my property is at least a month away before the first blooms start showing. Usually the pussy willow tree gets a head start on everything and currently there are no signs of it coming out of it's dormancy. I am hanging on to hope that winter lasts into April as that has not happened yet in my data recording period. I am sure spring fever has gone viral down in your neck of the woods. Enjoy! :)
I checked out your link to the Weather Watch 12 blog. I read the comments and saw one posted from a neighbor to our north in Canada. He stated he is seeing a 50 (+ or -) day pattern up his way. OK, I will following the LRC starting this fall through the winter. If a pattern appears according to the LRC I will treat you to a Drop Top (great beer) via mail!
ReplyDeleteBob! This is exciting news! I can already taste the Drop Top! In the meantime I will search for an online source of the LRC in your neck of the woods that you may be able reference...
ReplyDeleteOSNW3: That would be appreciated very much. The LRC is interesting, even more so when we see more of its history. I don't think many here in the NW are looking into it. I may send a note to Cliff Mass who is a wx guru and prof. on the west side of the state and see what he thinks.
ReplyDeleteBob, I read his blog occasionally and would be interested on his take of the LRC. I am still searching for an online source for a LRC following in your area... I had one lead but from the searching I did it turned out to be a dead end.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of history, I am on the last leg of my research for the years 1977 through 1979. I plan to blog about my findings before the end of the month, time permitting.