ChescoWx

Had a FB poster tell me they feel snow cover lasted longer "back in the day" So what are the top 20 seasons and days with consecutive snow cover? Of note but not surprisingly during our current snowier cycle - 7 of the top 20 snow cover stretches have happened since 2000.

We have almost doubled our average December rainfall so far this month and we look to further add to that figure over the next couple of days. So far today we have picked up 0.23" of rain here in East Nantmeal. Our monthly total is now 6.44" Some other Chester County PA area amounts so far this month: Atglen 7.21" / Chester Springs 6.17" / Warwick Twp. 7.09" / West Bradford Twp. 7.70" / West Chester 9.04" /Nottingham 6.73".

Had a FB poster tell me they feel snow cover lasted longer "back in the day" So what are the top 20 seasons and days with consecutive snow cover? Of note but not surprisingly during our current snowier cycle - 7 of the top 20 snow cover stretches have happened since 2000.

The problem today is folks who grew up in the 2000's and 2010's think we live in an area that gets a lot of snow....the cyclical nature will support a lot of folks belief that with the latest climate cycle it just does not snow like it did when they were younger....

Thanks Ahoff!!

Some snow drought factoids that you might find of interest. We have talked about this before but here in Chester County PA if we can just get through January 3rd without recording a full one inch daily snowfall we will set a new record for longest period between such events - our last greater than 1" snow event was on March 12, 2022 when we recorded 4.3" of snow. The current non 1" record is the only winter in Chester County since 1888 that recorded absolutely no snow at all. So nothing measurable (more than a trace) - this was during the non-winter of 1972-73. During that stretch we went from February 24, 1972 until December 16, 1973 or 661 days without a daily observed snowfall of at least 1 inch. To help hopefully put some of this in context for all of you snow lovers out there....be very thankful you were not around to remember back when we really had true snow droughts. Are you surprised to find out that from the mid-1930's through the late 1950's. Here in Chester County we had not even one above average snow season?? (Current 30 year average 35.9") So for 23 straight winter seasons from the winter of 1934-35 season through the 1956-57 season not one winter season featured above normal snowfall - snow enthusiasts must have been miserable!! By contrast folks today with more recent memories of here in Chester County PA may potentially be surprised to hear that the last 2 complete decades (2000's/2010's) featured two of the top four snowiest decades in our history going back through the 1890's. With my view of typical cyclical weather patterns....it would make one think we are way overdue for some non-snowy winters before the next snowy period sets in. Thoughts??

Some snow drought factoids that you might find of interest. We have talked about this before but here in Chester County PA if we can just get through January 3rd without recording a full one inch daily snowfall we will set a new record for longest period between such events - our last greater than 1" snow event was on March 12, 2022 when we recorded 4.3" of snow. The current non 1" record is the only winter in Chester County since 1888 that recorded absolutely no snow at all. So nothing measurable (more than a trace) - this was during the non-winter of 1972-73. During that stretch we went from February 24, 1972 until December 16, 1973 or 661 days without a daily observed snowfall of at least 1 inch. To help hopefully put some of this in context for all of you snow lovers out there....be very thankful you were not around to remember back when we really had true snow droughts. Are you surprised to find out that from the mid-1930's through the late 1950's. Here in Chester County we had not even one above average snow season?? (Current 30 year average 35.9") So for 23 straight winter seasons from the winter of 1934-35 season through the 1956-57 season not one winter season featured above normal snowfall - snow enthusiasts must have been miserable!! By contrast folks today with more recent memories of here in Chester County PA may potentially be surprised to hear that the last 2 complete decades (2000's/2010's) featured two of the top four snowiest decades in our history going back through the 1890's. With my view of typical cyclical weather patterns....it would make one think we are way overdue for some non-snowy winters before the next snowy period sets in. Thoughts??

Steve I think that was me pointing out there were no 6" or greater snowstorms in Philly from February 7, 1967 until January 20, 1978. Those were the day's we never got snow and that period was one of the least snowy decades in our history. It was a little better in the Philly burbs of Chesco....where we had 7 storms during those 12 years that exceeded 6". The biggest near miss was February 19, 1972 when Philly changed to rain after only 3.7" while Coatesville stayed snow and accumulated 13.8" of snow

A foggy AM across the area followed by a pretty gloomy week ahead before sun finally returns by the final weekend of 2023. Rain chances increase toward morning tomorrow with another good soaker on the way. We should see between 1.5" and 2.0" of rain. Very mild weather continues with our temperatures remaining above freezing till the weekend. Records for today: High 67 (1964) / Low -2 (1980) / Rain 2.50" (1909) / Snow 25.0" (1909). That was the 2nd day of the 1909 Blizzard that began at 8am on Christmas Morning and lasted till 6:30am on the 26th.

A foggy AM across the area followed by a pretty gloomy week ahead before sun finally returns by the final weekend of 2023. Rain chances increase toward morning tomorrow with another good soaker on the way. We should see between 1.5" and 2.0" of rain. Very mild weather continues with our temperatures remaining above freezing till the weekend. Records for today: High 67 (1964) / Low -2 (1980) / Rain 2.50" (1909) / Snow 25.0" (1909). That was the 2nd day of the 1909 Blizzard that began at 8am on Christmas Morning and lasted till 6:30am on the 26th.

SJ Shore Special....lock it up only 384 hours to go!

Those temps are plenty cold enough with a good track....I have seen much warmer ENS then those that have produced....

Merry Christmas!! Today looks to be the last dry day for a couple days. Steadiest rain looks to develop from west to east across the County on Tuesday evening. A good chance at 0.5 to 1" of rain before ending late Wednesday night. Temp well into the 40's to near 50 through Thursday before a change to colder by Friday. Records for Christmas Day: High 67 (1964) / Low minus 6 (1980) / Rain 1.93" (2002) / Snow 13.0" (1909)

Merry Christmas!! Today looks to be the last dry day for a couple days. Steadiest rain looks to develop from west to east across the County on Tuesday evening. A good chance at 0.5 to 1" of rain before ending late Wednesday night. Temp well into the 40's to near 50 through Thursday before a change to colder by Friday. Records for Christmas Day: High 67 (1964) / Low minus 6 (1980) / Rain 1.93" (2002) / Snow 13.0" (1909)

clear change to colder moving into 2024...

Merry Christmas to all! Chesco area roundups from yesterday

Merry Christmas to all! Chesco area roundups from yesterday

Below are the top 15 coldest Christmas Eve and Christmas Day combos since 1894....of note the top 4 have all occurred since 1980. Including the all-time 3rd coldest just last Christmas.

Below are the top 15 coldest Christmas Eve and Christmas Day combos since 1894....of note the top 4 have all occurred since 1980. Including the all-time 3rd coldest just last Christmas.

Merry Christmas Eve to all!! We picked up 0.05" of rain early this AM but with temps well above freezing no issues. Christmas Day looks great for travel with temps well into the 40's across the county and partly sunny skies. No freezing temps at all across the area until at the earliest Friday AM. Rain moves in late on Tuesday evening and lasts into Wednesday night. We then have a change in the pattern to much chillier air which looks to last right into the first part of the New Year. There will also be some opportunities for wintry weather as we head toward the 1st weekend of 2024. Records for Christmas Eve: High 68.5 (2015) / Low 2 below zero (1980) / Rain 1.63" (1986) / Snow 20.0" (1966) which was the snowstorm with frequent thunder and lightning accompanying the heavy snow.

Merry Christmas Eve to all!! We picked up 0.05" of rain early this AM but with temps well above freezing no issues. Christmas Day looks great for travel with temps well into the 40's across the county and partly sunny skies. No freezing temps at all across the area until at the earliest Friday AM. Rain moves in late on Tuesday evening and lasts into Wednesday night. We then have a change in the pattern to much chillier air which looks to last right into the first part of the New Year. There will also be some opportunities for wintry weather as we head toward the 1st weekend of 2024. Records for Christmas Eve: High 68.5 (2015) / Low 2 below zero (1980) / Rain 1.63" (1986) / Snow 20.0" (1966) which was the snowstorm with frequent thunder and lightning accompanying the heavy snow.

Looking ahead it appears likely that this December will finish as the 4th warmest final month of the year since records began in 1894. See the Top 20 warmest and coldest Decembers below. Of note, in our current warm cycle the top 3 warm December's have all occurred just since 2006!! So does a warm December correlate to a less snowy upcoming winter season? The answer is overall yes. Only 4 of the top 20 warmest December's featured above normal snow seasons (avg. snow 36"). While 10 of the top 20 coldest Decembers featured above normal snow for the upcoming season.

Another cloudy but milder day with temps rising to near normal levels for late December. A slight chance of showers overnight tonight otherwise a nice warming trend that will last through Thursday before a return to near normal temps to close out 2023. Next rain chance is Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Records for today: High 65.3 (2015) / Low 0 (1960) / Rain 1.41" (1907) / Snow 6.2" (1963)

Looking ahead it appears likely that this December will finish as the 4th warmest final month of the year since records began in 1894. See the Top 20 warmest and coldest Decembers below. Of note, in our current warm cycle the top 3 warm December's have all occurred just since 2006!! So does a warm December correlate to a less snowy upcoming winter season? The answer is overall yes. Only 4 of the top 20 warmest December's featured above normal snow seasons (avg. snow 36"). While 10 of the top 20 coldest Decembers featured above normal snow for the upcoming season.

Those outlooks are not forecasts...leaning or as above - we do not know!!