988 replies to this topic

[Ottawa Blizzard]

snowstormcanuck, on 16 February 2012 - 06:56 PM, said:

Have you verified Burlington and Boston have been getting snowier? I've been meaning to check that out but haven't yet.

And yes, the real bad winters have been very recent. 2011-12 (I think it's safe to start drawing some conclusions about this winter) + 2009-10. But even 2005-06, 2006-07 were partial disasters, featuring historic or near historic record lows in snowfall for at least 1-2 months in the cold weather season.

If we were to get three winters in a row like this then, and only then, can we say that there has been a definitive shift in our climate. 2005-2006 wasa partial disaster, but what makes it not stand out in my memory is that I moved to Ottawa at the start of January 2006, and thus missed the snow-free January in Toronto - Ottawa saw over 60cm that month.

I think the reason this winter is really sticking out for me is that not only is Toronto experiencing perhaps its most snow-free winter in over a century, it's happening my first winter back from Ottawa. Toronto is normally much less snowy and mich warmer than Ottawa, but the fact it's been so abnormally warm is really making it hit home.

[Snowstorms]

Ottawa Blizzard, on 16 February 2012 - 10:18 PM, said:

If we were to get three winters in a row like this then, and only then, can we say that there has been a definitive shift in our climate. 2005-2006 wasa partial disaster, but what makes it not stand out in my memory is that I moved to Ottawa at the start of January 2006, and thus missed the snow-free January in Toronto - Ottawa saw over 60cm that month.

I think the reason this winter is really sticking out for me is that not only is Toronto experiencing perhaps its most snow-free winter in over a century, it's happening my first winter back from Ottawa. Toronto is normally much less snowy and mich warmer than Ottawa, but the fact it's been so abnormally warm is really making it hit home.

We had horrible winters between 1945-1977, during the last cold PDO but we had much more worse Winters before the 40's and much of the 30's were a disaster for snowfall and temps.

Nov and Dec 05 were pretty sick months. I remember one storm in early December dumping a good 6-7". The thing different about this Winter between other winters, is that its widespread. Virtually all of Canada and USA are Winter free and have been since December which is not normal.

The back-back La Nina's destroyed the STJ thus the chances of any huge storms are limited to less than 10%. Climatology shows that Strong Nino's and Nina's often occur every 5-10 years so it would be pretty impossible to get a Strong Nino next year since the last one was 09-10.

[cyclone77]

Made it to 46 here today.

[cyclone77]

Just checked my records from last season. From this point forward last season we only received another 2.9" of snow. All of that was in the last two weeks of Feb. March and April only gave us a trace each. If that were to happen again this season it would be truly remarkable.

[Geos]

cyclone77, on 16 February 2012 - 11:27 PM, said:

Just checked my records from last season. From this point forward last season we only received another 2.9" of snow. All of that was in the last two weeks of Feb. March and April only gave us a trace each. If that were to happen again this season it would be truly remarkable.

I received 8.6" between February 16th-April 18th. Most of that was in February. I had more snow in April then March! 1.9" vs. 3.0".

[Hoosier]

snowstormcanuck, on 16 February 2012 - 08:49 PM, said:

March 23, 2011 was pure powder here. Twas late March too.

Late March '02 was another powdery event.  But these are probably exceptions to the rule around these latitudes especially if we are talking late March events and beyond.

[Chicago Storm]

Thursday, February 16th:
Hi: 46F
Lo: 33F
Overall Sky Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Max Wind Gust: 24MPH
Rainfall: 0.00"
Snowfall: 0.0"

[blackrock]

michsnowfreak, on 16 February 2012 - 08:36 PM, said:

That is a good point, whether its a good winter ("its been great, but im snowed out, bring on spring") or a bad winter ("i cant stand it, just bring on spring and end this misery")....people just seem to think March 1st signals instant spring. Outside of 2008, Marches have been fairly boring lately...people forget what March can really bring, especially north of I-80. And no, I dont mean a wet snow that melts in 1 day or "better hope the snow falls at night for it to stick"..those are things we should start to say April 1st, not March 1st. We need a big, widespread, cold, powdery March snowstorm around here to fix some of these thoughts!

I've been hoping for those types of storms all winter...I don't know if I can take another month and a half of disappointments! "Bring on spring" just makes it easier to not "hope" in this winter anymore and then it can be actually be joyful if SOMETHING is somehow produced in this awful winter we've had...

[Hoosier]

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