Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs

[Mount Joy Snowman]

7 hours ago, Itstrainingtime said:

GFS now essentially has moved completely south of the M/D line. 

Yes it has.  Also, it won't be talked about much because it's a pretty meager event and we were never fully in the crosshairs but today was a pretty big miss by the GFS, one in which it didn't cave to the other models until inside of 24 hours. 

As far as Monday, I still feel pretty good about where we are.  0z GFS wasn't as far south and I don't put as much stock in the off-hour runs.  Other models also still have varying degrees of support.  WPC still has us in the heart of its precip map so that's good.  Much to be determined the next couple days but isn't it fun when we're entering March and have to worry about Virginia and North Carolina stealing our snow haha.

[ChescoWx]

Today will be our 41st consecutive day with snow cover. This is now the 9th longest stretch and 12th overall streak since 1894. We could see some flurries late today across more southern areas. High temperatures today are a few degrees below normal around 40 degrees but a nice warm up on the way both Friday and especially Saturday with highs in the mid 50's. A strong cold front slides through on Saturday night and we will turn sharply colder by Sunday with highs back down into the 30's. Snow chances look to increase early next week but timing and amounts way too early to nail down.

[Jns2183]

March 1960
The coldest March in Harrisburg history
Date High (°F) Low (°F)
03/01/1960 32.0 20.0
03/02/1960 33.0 18.0
03/03/1960 28.0 19.0
03/04/1960 24.0 18.0
03/05/1960 25.0 18.0
03/06/1960 31.0 18.0
03/07/1960 25.0 11.0
03/08/1960 29.0 12.0
03/09/1960 31.0 13.0
03/10/1960 33.0 19.0
03/11/1960 32.0 12.0
03/12/1960 35.0 17.0
03/13/1960 35.0 18.0
03/14/1960 37.0 23.0
03/15/1960 39.0 21.0
03/16/1960 37.0 20.0
03/17/1960 38.0 30.0
03/18/1960 43.0 33.0
03/19/1960 41.0 28.0
03/20/1960 42.0 29.0
03/21/1960 37.0 28.0
03/22/1960 39.0 25.0
03/23/1960 37.0 23.0
03/24/1960 45.0 27.0
03/25/1960 32.0 22.0
03/26/1960 43.0 23.0
03/27/1960 59.0 29.0
03/28/1960 72.0 41.0
03/29/1960 67.0 42.0
03/30/1960 65.0 46.0
03/31/1960 61.0 52.0

MARCH 1960 SNOW & PRECIPITATION BREAKDOWN

DAYS WITH SNOW RECORDED
Date Precip Snow Ratio (S:L)
---------------------------------------------
03/03/1960 1.05" 10.5" (10.0:1)
03/04/1960 0.01" 0.2" (20.0:1)
03/05/1960 0.01" 0.1" (10.0:1)
03/07/1960 0.02" 0.6" (30.0:1)
03/08/1960 0.01" 0.4" (40.0:1)
03/10/1960 0.09" 1.8" (20.0:1)
03/16/1960 0.26" 3.2" (12.3:1)
03/17/1960 0.44" 3.0" (6.8:1)
03/21/1960 0.01" 0.2" (20.0:1)
03/22/1960 0.18" 2.0" (11.1:1)
03/24/1960 0.01" 0.2" (20.0:1)
03/26/1960 0.04" 0.4" (10.0:1)
---------------------------------------------
Subtotal: 2.13" 22.6" (10.6:1)
Snow Day Count: 12


DAYS WITH NO SNOW RECORDED
Date Precip
-------------------------
03/01/1960 0.00"
03/02/1960 0.00"
03/06/1960 0.00"
03/09/1960 0.00"
03/11/1960 0.00"
03/12/1960 0.00"
03/13/1960 0.00"
03/14/1960 0.00"
03/15/1960 0.00"
03/18/1960 0.00"
03/19/1960 0.00"
03/20/1960 0.00"
03/23/1960 0.00"
03/25/1960 0.00"
03/27/1960 0.00"
03/28/1960 0.00"
03/29/1960 0.00"
03/30/1960 0.32"
03/31/1960 0.07"
-------------------------
Subtotal: 0.39"


MONTHLY TOTALS
Total Precipitation: 2.52"
Total Snowfall: 22.6"


1960 TEMPERATURE RANKINGS (1 = Coldest)

Month | Avg Temp | Rank (Coldest)
----------------------------------------
March | 31.7F | 1/126
April | 56.7F | 118/126
May | 59.9F | 25/125
June | 70.5F | 45/125
July | 72.9F | 4/125
August | 75.0F | 82/125


Watching MU Twitter as this unfolded would have been a guilty pleasure

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[Jns2183]

It was before my time but does anyone here have a clear memory of the summer of 1982?

SUMMER 1982 DAILY WEATHER LOG (HARRISBURG, PA)

JUNE 1982
Date | High | Low | Avg | Pcp
--------------------------------
06/01 | 73 | 63 | 68.0 | 2.36
06/02 | 75 | 55 | 65.0 | 0.00
06/03 | 66 | 52 | 59.0 | 0.74
06/04 | 65 | 56 | 60.5 | 0.02
06/05 | 60 | 56 | 58.0 | 1.18
06/06 | 64 | 55 | 59.5 | 0.00
06/07 | 75 | 54 | 64.5 | 0.00
06/08 | 73 | 53 | 63.0 | 0.00
06/09 | 80 | 55 | 67.5 | 0.00
06/10 | 62 | 55 | 58.5 | 0.16
06/11 | 63 | 58 | 60.5 | 0.26
06/12 | 62 | 53 | 57.5 | 0.19
06/13 | 54 | 50 | 52.0 | 1.47
06/14 | 76 | 51 | 63.5 | 0.00
06/15 | 81 | 51 | 66.0 | 0.00
06/16 | 83 | 65 | 74.0 | 1.48
06/17 | 78 | 64 | 71.0 | 0.00
06/18 | 79 | 57 | 68.0 | 0.00
06/19 | 81 | 59 | 70.0 | 0.00
06/20 | 73 | 54 | 63.5 | 0.00
06/21 | 80 | 57 | 68.5 | 0.00
06/22 | 77 | 55 | 66.0 | 0.04
06/23 | 72 | 53 | 62.5 | 0.00
06/24 | 74 | 50 | 62.0 | 0.00
06/25 | 80 | 50 | 65.0 | 0.00
06/26 | 84 | 58 | 71.0 | 0.00
06/27 | 82 | 60 | 71.0 | 0.00
06/28 | 85 | 65 | 75.0 | 0.00
06/29 | 80 | 68 | 74.0 | 0.17
06/30 | 78 | 59 | 68.5 | 0.05

JUNE 1982 SUMMARY:
Precipitation: 8.12" (Max 1-Day: 2.36")
Means: High 73.8F | Low 56.4F | Avg 65.1F
Max Values: High 85F | Low 68F | Avg 75.0F
Min Values: High 54F | Low 50F | Avg 52.0F

JULY 1982
Date | High | Low | Avg | Pcp
--------------------------------
07/01 | 75 | 52 | 63.5 | 0.00
07/02 | 78 | 50 | 64.0 | 0.00
07/03 | 62 | 58 | 60.0 | 0.52
07/04 | 78 | 55 | 66.5 | 0.00
07/05 | 75 | 58 | 66.5 | 0.00
07/06 | 81 | 56 | 68.5 | 0.00
07/07 | 86 | 64 | 75.0 | 0.00
07/08 | 86 | 68 | 77.0 | 0.07
07/09 | 86 | 68 | 77.0 | 0.00
07/10 | 86 | 66 | 76.0 | 0.00
07/11 | 81 | 69 | 75.0 | 0.00
07/12 | 85 | 63 | 74.0 | 0.00
07/13 | 85 | 59 | 72.0 | 0.00
07/14 | 91 | 63 | 77.0 | 0.00
07/15 | 88 | 72 | 80.0 | 0.00
07/16 | 90 | 70 | 80.0 | 0.00
07/17 | 90 | 73 | 81.5 | 0.00
07/18 | 92 | 75 | 83.5 | 0.00
07/19 | 90 | 73 | 81.5 | 0.00
07/20 | 84 | 71 | 77.5 | 0.08
07/21 | 84 | 63 | 73.5 | 0.00
07/22 | 88 | 59 | 73.5 | 0.00
07/23 | 87 | 70 | 78.5 | 0.00
07/24 | 86 | 62 | 74.0 | 0.00
07/25 | 91 | 62 | 76.5 | 0.00
07/26 | 93 | 70 | 81.5 | 0.00
07/27 | 88 | 73 | 80.5 | 0.64
07/28 | 85 | 68 | 76.5 | 0.92
07/29 | 83 | 62 | 72.5 | 0.00
07/30 | 74 | 63 | 68.5 | 0.01
07/31 | 83 | 66 | 74.5 | 0.66

JULY 1982 SUMMARY:
Precipitation: 2.90" (Max 1-Day: 0.92")
Means: High 84.2F | Low 64.5F | Avg 74.4F
Max Values: High 93F | Low 75F | Avg 83.5F
Min Values: High 62F | Low 50F | Avg 60.0F

AUGUST 1982
Date | High | Low | Avg | Pcp
--------------------------------
08/01 | 83 | 64 | 73.5 | 0.00
08/02 | 84 | 64 | 74.0 | 0.38
08/03 | 82 | 63 | 72.5 | 0.00
08/04 | 86 | 65 | 75.5 | 0.57
08/05 | 90 | 72 | 81.0 | 0.00
08/06 | 82 | 69 | 75.5 | 0.00
08/07 | 81 | 67 | 74.0 | 0.00
08/08 | 83 | 72 | 77.5 | 0.00
08/09 | 85 | 71 | 78.0 | 0.64
08/10 | 85 | 68 | 76.5 | 0.00
08/11 | 72 | 61 | 66.5 | 0.18
08/12 | 78 | 57 | 67.5 | 0.00
08/13 | 76 | 54 | 65.0 | 0.00
08/14 | 80 | 55 | 67.5 | 0.00
08/15 | 83 | 56 | 69.5 | 0.00
08/16 | 85 | 58 | 71.5 | 0.00
08/17 | 85 | 62 | 73.5 | 0.18
08/18 | 79 | 59 | 69.0 | 0.00
08/19 | 84 | 55 | 69.5 | 0.00
08/20 | 81 | 61 | 71.0 | 0.08
08/21 | 75 | 58 | 66.5 | 0.00
08/22 | 70 | 50 | 60.0 | 0.00
08/23 | 74 | 58 | 66.0 | 0.04
08/24 | 84 | 62 | 73.0 | 0.00
08/25 | 84 | 62 | 73.0 | 0.38
08/26 | 82 | 57 | 69.5 | 0.00
08/27 | 71 | 64 | 67.5 | 0.00
08/28 | 74 | 56 | 65.0 | 0.00
08/29 | 70 | 46 | 58.0 | 0.00
08/30 | 75 | 59 | 67.0 | 0.00
08/31 | 82 | 61 | 71.5 | 0.02

AUGUST 1982 SUMMARY:
Precipitation: 2.47" (Max 1-Day: 0.64")
Means: High 80.2F | Low 60.8F | Avg 70.5F
Max Values: High 92F | Low 72F | Avg 81.0F
Min Values: High 70F | Low 46F | Avg 58.0F

SUMMER 1982 TOTAL SUMMARY:
Precipitation: 13.49" (Max 1-Day: 2.36")
Means: High 79.5F | Low 60.6F | Avg 70.0F
Max Values: High 93F | Low 75F | Avg 83.5F
Min Values: High 54F | Low 46F | Avg 52.0F

SUMMER 1982 TEMPERATURE FREQUENCY (DAYS)

HIGH TEMPERATURES
Period | ----------------------------------------------
JUNE | 1 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 0
JULY | 0 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 7
AUGUST | 0 | 0 | 11 | 19 | 1
----------------------------------------------
SUMMER | 1 | 8 | 28 | 47 | 8


LOW TEMPERATURES
Period | -----------------------------------------
JUNE | 0 | 24 | 6 | 0
JULY | 0 | 8 | 14 | 9
AUGUST | 1 | 13 | 14 | 3
-----------------------------------------
SUMMER | 1 | 45 | 34 | 12


Imagine only 12 nights with a low above 70 and 8 days of 90's

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[canderson]

Sound like the first half of March will be AN temp wise. 

[Voyager]

43 in the Tamaqua backyard at 10:30am. Even warmer here in Allentown. Hopefully we get a full sunny day today. That way, all of the old snowpack will be gone before anything next week materializes.

[Itstrainingtime]

Just read a comment from MillvilleWx in the MA thread that expectations need to be in check for early next week - top end amounts will be in the 2-4" range at best, and that's for those who are in the bullseye. He admitted he's not invested in it and he is moving on to spring. 

[Itstrainingtime]

1 hour ago, canderson said:

Sound like the first half of March will be AN temp wise. 

"Feels" like spring is imminent based on the vibe of the thread. Posts are slowing down noticeably. TBD if we get something later in March. 

[WmsptWx]

I am ready to call it a winter. I'll grade it a B. 

 

It was winter, temps wise. I don't believe we torched once after Thanksgiving and I'll consider next week's blow torching the announcement of Spring. Had some pretty significant cold. Temps get an A. 

Precip gets a C. Being in the valley, I believe we have fallen short of everybody around, mostly due to a very, very dry December and early January. 

 

Really, really want a strong severe thunderstorm season and none of this "40 and rain" until June nonsense. 

[MAG5035]

This one’s for you @Voyagerhaha. Once we route out the lingering cold later next week after whatever happens Monday, guidance shifts high pressure to a Bermuda high positioning and that would likely usher in the warmest air we’ve seen since about October. Euro/GFS both have multiple days in the 70s late next week into next weekend. Given setup and teleconnections (+AO/NAO, +EPO, -PNA) I don’t think this one get’s muted. 

[Itstrainingtime]

28 minutes ago, MAG5035 said:

This one’s for you @Voyagerhaha. Once we route out the lingering cold later next week after whatever happens Monday, guidance shifts high pressure to a Bermuda high positioning and that would likely usher in the warmest air we’ve seen since about October. Euro/GFS both have multiple days in the 70s late next week into next weekend. Given setup and teleconnections (+AO/NAO, +EPO, -PNA) I don’t think this one get’s muted. 

Interesting. The temperature gradient in the midwest is oriented north to south like we'd might expect, but in the east it's oriented west to east. Is that simply due to the deep snowpack in the northeast? 

[Voyager]

48 minutes ago, MAG5035 said:

This one’s for you @Voyagerhaha. Once we route out the lingering cold later next week after whatever happens Monday, guidance shifts high pressure to a Bermuda high positioning and that would likely usher in the warmest air we’ve seen since about October. Euro/GFS both have multiple days in the 70s late next week into next weekend. Given setup and teleconnections (+AO/NAO, +EPO, -PNA) I don’t think this one get’s muted. 

Thanks for posting this. I know I'm in the minority, and sometimes I can be overbearing, but I really needed a spirit pick me up. I've been about as depressed as I've ever been this winter.

[anotherman]

53 minutes ago, MAG5035 said:

This one’s for you @Voyagerhaha. Once we route out the lingering cold later next week after whatever happens Monday, guidance shifts high pressure to a Bermuda high positioning and that would likely usher in the warmest air we’ve seen since about October. Euro/GFS both have multiple days in the 70s late next week into next weekend. Given setup and teleconnections (+AO/NAO, +EPO, -PNA) I don’t think this one get’s muted. 

This will signal the end of our Maple Sugaring operation.

[ChescoWx]

Some interesting stats on the frequency of large 10" plus snowstorms comparing the Philly burbs of Chester County PA vs. Philadelphia.

[MAG5035]

BGM’s take, since they have been updating CTP’s AFD since yesterday morning.

Quote

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service State College PA
Issued by National Weather Service Binghamton NY
210 PM EST Thu Feb 26 2026

KEY MESSAGE 2:

The long wave trough remains mostly in place across the region
Sunday night into Monday night, but uncertainty arrives with the
wave pattern to the south that may bring additional rounds of
precipitation to the region. A couple waves move in from the
central US and attempt to brush the southern fringes of the cold
air mass during this time with some potential episodes of
rain/snow, but there is still quite a bit of uncertainty
regarding the north- south extent of these waves. There is high
confidence in the overall pattern becoming warmer by the middle
to latter part of next week. Several short waves may move across
the region during this time as well, which would likely bring
rain (rather than snow) to the region. Will need to monitor this
potentially significant pattern shift as this could prove
impactful to the break up of river ice and lead to an increased
threat of ice jams.

 

[Jns2183]

My first post of maybe several in coming days if people enjoy it. These are about true rarity in these parts that used to be a whole lot less rare. April Blizzards

This is a deep dive into the "April Surprise" of 1894, a legendary late-season monster that paralyzed Pennsylvania just as the state was beginning to bloom.
1894: A World, Nation, and State in Flux
In April 1894, the world was a study in contrasts. Globally, the Panic of 1893 was still casting a long economic shadow, leading to significant labor unrest. In the United States, "Coxey’s Army"—the first significant popular protest march on Washington, D.C.—was tramping through the mud of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, demanding jobs just as this blizzard struck. Locally, Pennsylvania was the industrial heart of the nation; the steel mills of Pittsburgh were roaring, and the coal mines of the Anthracite region were fueling the Gilded Age. Culturally, the 24th President, Grover Cleveland, was in office, and the first ever Stanley Cup championship had just been played weeks prior. Little did Pennsylvanians know that a "Second Winter" was about to descend with historic fury.
The Winter 1893-94 Lead-Up: February’s Peak
The winter of 1893–94 wasn't a consistent "ice box" year; rather, it was a season of extreme pulses. The early winter was relatively quiet, but February 1894 became the soul of the season. February saw a staggering 1,401.8" of station-summed snowfall across the state network—nearly triple the amount seen in January. The coldest day occurred on February 25, when the statewide average minimum temperature plummeted to -1.3°F. However, as March arrived, the "spring flip" was aggressive. Temperatures surged into the mid-50s, the snow pack vanished, and by early April, fruit trees were budding and farmers were eyeing their fields. The atmosphere was primed for a clash of seasons.
Monthly Statistical Summary (Pre-Blizzard)
| Month | Stations Reporting | Snow Sum | Mean Tmax | Mean Tmin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893-11 | 53 | 48.0" | 47.8°F | 32.6°F |
| 1893-12 | 56 | 255.7" | 40.7°F | 24.6°F |
| 1894-01 | 82 | 472.9" | 40.7°F | 25.4°F |
| 1894-02 | 82 | 1401.8" | 36.7°F | 18.8°F |
| 1894-03 | 82 | 97.1" | 54.0°F | 32.6°F |
| 1894-04 (1–9) | 83 | 100.6" | 49.4°F | 32.0°F |
The "April Bomb": April 10–12, 1894
The blizzard was not a classic "Arctic Blast" but rather a dynamically forced powerhouse. On April 10, a deepening low-pressure system began drawing massive amounts of moisture from the Atlantic, crashing it into a marginal but stubborn cold air mass draped over the interior of Pennsylvania. While Philadelphia saw mostly a cold, driving rain (only 0.5" snow) and Pittsburgh remained on the "warm" side with 0.0", the Central Ridge-Valley and Susquehanna Valley became the "Jackpot Zone." On April 11, the storm reached its peak, with 54 stations reporting snow and a statewide station-sum of 411.4" in a single 24-hour window.
The 9-Day Timeline (The Setup, The Event, The Melt)
| Date | Mean Tmax | Mean Tmin | Stations w/ Snow | Max Single-Station Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7 (Pre) | 41.8°F | 29.7°F | 23 | 6.5" |
| Apr 10 (Start) | 41.9°F | 31.1°F | 38 | 10.0" |
| Apr 11 (Peak) | 36.7°F | 30.0°F | 54 | 28.0" |
| Apr 12 (End) | 43.6°F | 31.6°F | 18 | 4.0" |
| Apr 15 (Melt) | 63.0°F | 32.5°F | 0 | 0.0" |
Geographic Winners and Losers
The 1894 blizzard was a masterclass in "mesoscale banding." While the big cities on either end of the state (Philly and Pittsburgh) saw very little, the interior was buried. Selinsgrove recorded a mind-boggling 28.0" on April 11 alone. State College was a consistent winner throughout the event, recording 18" over two days. This storm was a "wet" snow, meaning the weight on the newly budding trees and telegraph lines was catastrophic, causing widespread communication blackouts across the Susquehanna Valley.
Top Station Totals (April 11 Peak)
* Selinsgrove 2 S: 28.0"
* Le Roy: 22.0"
* Lewisburg: 20.0"
* Coatesville: 18.5"
* Lebanon: 17.5"
* Harrisburg: 13.0"
The Aftermath: The Great Disappearing Act
As quickly as the winter monster arrived, it vanished. By April 13, the sun came out and temperatures began to climb. By April 15, the statewide average maximum temperature hit 63°F, sending the massive snowpack into a rapid melt. This led to localized flooding as the heavy, wet "April White" turned into "April Water." For those living through it, the 1894 blizzard was a reminder that in Pennsylvania, winter is never truly dead until May.
Visualizations
I am generating a snowfall map of the hardest-hit locations and a commemorative "Weather Lore" infographic for the board.
Here is the detailed write-up for your weather message board, formatted for easy copy-and-paste.
1894: A World, Nation, and State in Flux
The spring of 1894 arrived at a pivotal moment in history. Globally, the Panic of 1893 was still casting a long economic shadow, fueling labor unrest and leading to the historic march of "Coxey’s Army" toward Washington, D.C. In Pennsylvania, the Gilded Age was in full swing; steel mills and coal mines were the engines of the nation, and Grover Cleveland sat in the White House. While the state was looking forward to the regrowth of spring, a "Second Winter" was quietly gathering strength in the atmosphere.
The Winter 1893–94 Lead-Up: February’s Peak
The 1893–94 season was one of extremes rather than consistency. After a quiet start, February 1894 became the heart of the winter, delivering a staggering 1,401.8" of station-summed snowfall across Pennsylvania—nearly triple the volume of January. The season’s arctic peak occurred on February 25, with a statewide average low of -1.3°F. However, March brought a violent "spring flip," with average highs surging into the mid-50s and the snowpack rapidly vanishing. By early April, fruit trees were budding, setting the stage for a catastrophic clash of air masses.
Monthly Statistical Summary (Pre-Blizzard)

| Month             | Stations | Snow Sum | Mean Tmax | Mean Tmin ||-------------------|----------|----------|-----------|-----------|| 1893-11           | 53       | 48.0"    | 47.8°F    | 32.6°F    || 1893-12           | 56       | 255.7"   | 40.7°F    | 24.6°F    || 1894-01           | 82       | 472.9"   | 40.7°F    | 25.4°F    || 1894-02           | 82       | 1401.8"  | 36.7°F    | 18.8°F    || 1894-03           | 82       | 97.1"    | 54.0°F    | 32.6°F    || 1894-04 (1–9)     | 83       | 100.6"   | 49.4°F    | 32.0°F    |

The "April Bomb": April 10–12, 1894
The blizzard was a dynamically forced powerhouse rather than a classic arctic blast. On April 10, a deepening low-pressure system tapped into Atlantic moisture and collided with a stubborn cold air mass over the interior. While Philadelphia saw mostly cold rain and Pittsburgh stayed on the warm side of the track, the Central Ridge-Valley and Susquehanna Valley were decimated. On April 11, the storm peaked with 54 stations reporting snow and a single-day station-sum of 411.4". Because this was a heavy, wet "heart attack" snow, it caused massive damage to budding trees and telegraph lines.
The 9-Day Timeline (Setup, Event, and Melt)

| Date          | Mean Tmax | Mean Tmin | Stations w/ Snow | Max Single Snow ||---------------|-----------|-----------|------------------|-----------------|| Apr 7 (Pre)   | 41.8°F    | 29.7°F    | 23               | 6.5"            || Apr 10 (Start)| 41.9°F    | 31.1°F    | 38               | 10.0"           || Apr 11 (Peak) | 36.7°F    | 30.0°F    | 54               | 28.0"           || Apr 12 (End)  | 43.6°F    | 31.6°F    | 18               | 4.0"            || Apr 15 (Melt) | 63.0°F    | 32.5°F    | 0                | 0.0"            |

Geographic Winners and Losers
The 1894 event was defined by mesoscale banding. Selinsgrove recorded a legendary 28.0" on April 11 alone, while State College and Harrisburg both saw heavy interior accumulation. Conversely, the "big anchors" on the state's edges missed out on the true blizzard conditions.
Top Daily Snowfall (April 11):
* Selinsgrove 2 S: 28.0"
* Le Roy: 22.0"
* Lewisburg: 20.0"
* Coatesville: 18.5"
* Harrisburg: 13.0"
* State College: 13.0"
The Aftermath: The Great Disappearing Act
As quickly as the winter monster arrived, it vanished. By April 13, the sun emerged, and by April 15, the statewide average high hit 63°F. The massive, moisture-laden snowpack melted rapidly, leading to localized flooding and turning the "April White" into "April Water" in a matter of hours. For Pennsylvanians of the 1890s, it was a stark reminder that winter is never truly dead until May.
Visualization: The Jackpot Map
The map below highlights the "Interior Jackpot" where the storm core centered, showing the stark contrast between the buried central valleys and the relatively dry urban anchors.
1894 BLIZZARD INFOGRAPHIC
> THE APRIL BOMB AT A GLANCE
> * The Peak Day: April 11, 1894
> * Biggest Winner: Selinsgrove (28 inches in 24 hours)
> * The "Flip": 36°F (Blizzard) 63°F (Spring Melt) in 4 days.
> * The Damage: Thousands of budding fruit trees destroyed; telegraph lines snapped across the Susquehanna.
>
Would you like me to generate a similar breakdown for the 1888 Children's Blizzard or perhaps a specific regional comparison for this 1894 event?


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[Jns2183]

Tomorrow I do 1915 which not only is the opening salvo in the true reign of April Blizzards, as it's followed up with the 1919, the king of them all in 1924, and the one spoken at length yesterday in 1927; but it also had a cut off that would make me weep. 10" to nothing in 20 miles. 70 miles between 20" and nothing.

And researching these I have discovered that they seem to come and bundles and then nothing at all for decades and we are certainly due

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[Jns2183]

I've downloaded the complete set of all observation records in Pennsylvania up until 1925. 213 unique stations at one point contributed to this treasure trove. It's been fascinating just running the first bit of data analysis on them. Feels like I'm looking at an alien landscape.

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