TheClimateChanger

Yes, indeed. Couple comments on the AMS journal article I linked to. The authors cite the prior record statewide storm total snowfall as 42.0" at Gratiot, Ohio, from April 19-22, 1901. 42.0" of snow was also observed by the observer at Canton, Ohio, from that same storm, although it looks like those observations have never been digitized. Additionally, 44.0" was reported at Steubenville, Ohio, from November 24-29, 1950, during the Great Appalachian Storm of 1950, which is probably the true record besides this 1996 LES storm. Interestingly, they conclude that a snow depth of 48" reported by a nearby observer was incorrect and inflated. One would think the more reasonable conclusion is the snowfall amounts were underreported due to the infrequency of measurements. Also, as further evidence of inflation, the author points out that only 1" remained on the ground at the end of the month at that site, while 6" was observed at the other site. However, this could easily be explained by one location being in a sunnier and more exposed location, or by the other spot receiving more snow the remainder of the month. It sounds like another 7 or 8" fell there even after this storm. Either way, that is an impressive duration of snow cover for the month of November - even for the "snow belt" of Ohio.

Here is the final snowfall map for the lake effect / lake enhanced and upslope snowfall event:

Veteran's Day Lake Effect Storm of 1996 was a crazy one, although that lasted multiple days. Nearly SIX FEET of snow in Chardon, Ohio! Much more impressive than the current event. A Record Ohio Snowfall during 9–14 November 1996 in: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society Volume 80 Issue 6 (1999)

Certainly hasn't seemed that way with the historical snowfall drought in Cleveland and many other Great Lakes locations:

Doing a little better on the 10-year, and anything more than 2.3" of snow by December 31 would shift the Big Apple further down the list. Currently, in 8th place for least snowy 10-year periods excluding periods with partial data (since 1866-1875). A rough go of it in the late 80s an early 90s, but certainly moving up the ranks now. And with a relatively snowy 2016-2018 period, with a whopping 110.3" of snow, or more than half of the snow in the last 10 years, we will need to throw up some BIG numbers to avoid dropping lower to replace those snowy years. Indeed, the next 3 years would need to average nearly 30" of snow per year just to avoid plummeting to the least snowy 10-year period in 2019-2028. If the next 3 years are instead relatively unsnowy, we could be in a situation where we will be poised to absolutely SHATTER the 10-year futility record by 2028.

As we head into winter, it's a good time to rewind and recognize the ongoing HISTORIC snowfall drought in the Big Apple. Currently, the last 3 years are the least snowy such period on record, with just 22.7 inches. Central Park would need to see at least 5.5" of snow before the end of the year to surpass 1997-1999's paltry tally of 28.1 inches. Interestingly, 1869 had more snowfall with just 1 calendar year's worth of data, so even though data does not exist for 1867 or 1868, we can say this is the least snowy 3-year period through at least 1867-1869. Given the so-called little ice age ended in the middle of the 19th century, I think it highly unlikely there would have been a less snowy 3-year stretch prior to that date. So this is probably the least snowy 3 years in New York City history. Looking at the 5-year snow drought, not much better. Excluding period's with partial data (1865-1869 & 1866-1870, interestingly, the period 1867-1871, with just 3 years is not among the least snowy), only 1928-1932 and 1927-1931 reported less snowfall. Snowfall measurement techniques have been amended since that era, so they might have been somewhat higher if measured with today's procedures - perhaps 15-20 percent, per NCAR. An additional 2.8" of snowfall is needed to surpass current 3rd place (2020-2024). In any event, clearly the least snowy 5 year period in anyone's lifetime on here. Very impressive.

50th anniversary of the infamous wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Also, the "White Hurricane" of 1913 was winding down on this date and that wrecked a number of ships. Very deadly day on Superior historically.

Will be interesting to see where the period 2021-2025 falls on the 5-year cumulative snow futility list. Currently, this is the second least snowy 5-year period on record, behind the 5-year period ending 12/31/2024 (2020-2024). BOS would need 16.1" of snow by the end of December to move out 2nd place for 5-year futility. On the plus, maybe we've turned the corner since 2021-2025 is guaranteed to be snowier than 2020-2024 even if no additional snow falls before the EOY.

October was 0.8F above normal at Pittsburgh.

Very impressive. Certainly keeping an eye on the Great Lakes, as water levels continue to descend, e.g. lowest October levels on Michigan-Huron since 2012. Won't break the record lows of January 2013 this winter, but still quite the fall from the record highs of 2019-20.

Wow, that 136.8F annual maximum!

What happens in November, the winter will remember. That’s a very old saying, often repeated by Big Joe Bastardi back in the day.

Incredible. What impact, if any, does this trend have on your thoughts for the upcoming winter?

I wish we had hurricane and tropical cyclone statistics from the last glacial maximum. It wouldn't surprise if there were years with few, if any, storms, at least in the North Atlantic. I just don't know how high the SSTs were for much of the region. Probably greatly suppressed where storms were capable of forming, how intense they could get, and also the length of the summer.

Certainly a far cry from the original "old-fashioned winter" of 1917-1918, as christened by Charles Franklin Brooks, the founder and first head of the American Meteorological Society, which saw upwards of 17.5" of snow in Wisconsin, 15" in West Virginia and two feet in the Black Hills in the month of October. Not sure how well this bodes for folks hoping for another "old-fashioned" winter this year. Winter of 1917–18 in the United States - Wikipedia For more on the winter of 1917-1918, see this fascinating NY Times article from February 20, 1977: The Winter of 1917–18 Was a Cold One... - The New York Times As an aside, I find it interesting that the temperatures in Trenton were still being taken on a downtown rooftop at least as recently as 1977. We didn't have the snowflake crybullies that we have today - oh, no, the ASOS is too close to the tarmac! Back in the day, they just took the temperature wherever they could, and I bet the readings were more relevant to the conditions where most people lived (i.e., in the cities). Of course, you'll never see any adjustments made for the elevated readings of the past resulting from such substandard exposure/siting.

Fascinating that the earliest snowfall in Columbia, South Carolina was November 9, 1913. That coincides with the White Hurricane of 1913, a fierce, fierce storm that brought FEET of snow and damaging, hurricane force winds to the Great Lakes, including a record-breaking 22 inches at Cleveland, Ohio. Columbia must have gotten some snowflakes mixed in as the southern end of the cold front was passing through. Great Lakes Storm of 1913 - Wikipedia

Good post. I realize this is in regard to the 2014-15 winter, but I think a lot of people here are just getting old and don't realize how old some of these winters are. We are as far removed from 2013-2014, as we were from the winter of 1981-1982 (which UPI reports left an indelible mark on weather history - see link at end) in the winter of 1993-1994. I don't know about you, but in 1993/94, I would've considered 1981/82 to be ancient history. But some of these people would have you believe it was just yesterday. Link: Winter 1982 rewrites weather history - UPI Archives

People might not believe it, but Mother Nature is never fooled. Way more foliage hanging around than usual, at least in my area.

With how hot it is these days, you would think natural gas would be free. Totally worthless.