Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs

[Jns2183]

Yeah there are always some looney tune reports in those PNS releases but they offer a good big picture view.  Aaaaahhhh so you do measurements every hour and sum them?  That would explain your big total.  I believe NWS guidance for snow measurements is every 4 or 6 hours, someone can correct me.  Not hounding ya for doing it that way, just offering some color as to why people report such varying totals.

Truthfully it depends on how much I want to sleep and how much snow is blowing, and if it's different precipitation types. I truthfully try to shoot for 3 hours that are lined up exactly with the main model times because I'm a data junkie. But I did have almost exactly the same as that trained spotter 3 miles from my house when he did his report

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[Mount Joy Snowman]

14 minutes ago, CarlislePaWx said:

I am good friends with Dave Robinson, the NJ State Climatologist.  He, along with several other state climatologists reached a consensus on the measuring protocol about 20 years ago. Together, the protocol was adopted by the NWS and should be the protocol used for all NWS-related measurements for snow/sleet.   The correct answer to how frequently to clear the snow board is every 6 hours.  Anything more often than that, as you can see, will inflate the total progressively higher as you continue to clear the board more frequently.  I don't think I've ever heard of anyone taking hourly readings followed by clearing the board.  (I'm not picking on you.  It's just that I am certain I know how to do the snowboard measurement since I've been doing it that way (to the best of my ability) ever since.)  There are additional steps that are to be taken when there is the introduction of sleet.

Agreed.  I think you intended this message for JNS?  I was the one pointing out that him doing the hourly measurements likely inflated his totals and that it should be done every 4, or as you've now clarified, 6 hours. 

[Summit Snow]

Don't get above 20 through Sunday up here. 

EURO and ICON have coastal bomb for next Sunday.

[philliesmd]

56 minutes ago, WmsptWx said:

There's something funny about a flight to a weather conference being canceled, assuming due to weather lol. 

 

Assuming it's weather unless we lost all the Air Traffic dicks and I hadn't read about it. 

Hey now, I used to be one of those air traffic dicks. 

[Superstorm]

Canadian is a blizzard.


.

[GrandmasterB]

I’d love to track another one this week. This is how to run a winter! 

[anotherman]

1 minute ago, Superstorm said:

Canadian is a blizzard.


.

This is not very far away, either.  Hopefully all the models agree early so people can prepare.  Could be very impactful for the area.

[Jns2183]

I am good friends with Dave Robinson, the NJ State Climatologist.  He, along with several other state climatologists reached a consensus on the measuring protocol about 20 years ago. Together, the protocol was adopted by the NWS and should be the protocol used for all NWS-related measurements for snow/sleet.   The correct answer to how frequently to clear the snow board is every 6 hours.  Anything more often than that, as you can see, will inflate the total progressively higher as you continue to clear the board more frequently.  I don't think I've ever heard of anyone taking hourly readings followed by clearing the board.  (I'm not picking on you.  It's just that I am certain I know how to do the snowboard measurement since I've been doing it that way (to the best of my ability) ever since.)  There are additional steps that are to be taken when there is the introduction of sleet.

What do you do for sleet?
I had 8.5" at 11. This was also when rates were great. One of reasons I started taking them more frequently in this storm was because the breeze was starting to blow the supper dry snow around and I wasn't confident in the new location I placed the snow board. If you can point me too the correct protocol id appreciate it

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[sauss06]

next event is for Sunday correct, February 1st?

[AccuChris]

12z GFS is very close to being an epic blizzard but still just a little too far east. Not a bad place to be at this time


.

[Jns2183]

Canadian is a blizzard.


.

Maybe we can do a reverse 1996 where we had the 22" storm and 5 days later a 11"

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[canderson]

9 minutes ago, sauss06 said:

next event is for Sunday correct, February 1st?

Sundays to Monday yea   This is a monster 

[Festus]

Winds starting to kick up but I see zero signs of drifting here.  We ended up with a nice crust on top so that should tame the drifting potential.  One less pita to contend with.

[CarlislePaWx]

16 minutes ago, Jns2183 said:

What do you do for sleet?
I had 8.5" at 11. This was also when rates were great. One of reasons I started taking them more frequently in this storm was because the breeze was starting to blow the supper dry snow around and I wasn't confident in the new location I placed the snow board. If you can point me too the correct protocol id appreciate it

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Hey...

I just sent you a DM.  Check it out.

[canderson]

1 minute ago, Festus said:

Winds starting to kick up but I see zero signs of drifting here.  We ended up with a nice crust on top so that should tame the drifting potential.  One less pita to contend with.

SNL is blowing off roofs but anything on pavement is concrete at this point here 

[Jns2183]

There were 17 seasons where the official Harrisburg station recorded 14" plus in a 2-day or less event since 1890. Here are the stats
Statistics for these 17 Seasons:
Count: 17
Mean: 49.91"
Std Dev: 18.54"
Median (50%): 47.20"
Min: 23.90"
Max: 81.30"
25th Percentile: 38.00"
75th Percentile: 57.70"

For 12" plus
Statistics for these 31 Seasons:
Count: 31
Mean: 45.82"
Std Dev: 16.39"
Median (50%): 39.50"
Min: 23.90"
Max: 81.30"
25th Percentile: 34.95"
75th Percentile: 54.45

For 10" plus
Statistics for these 48 Seasons:
Count: 48
Mean: 42.90"
Std Dev: 15.12"
Median (50%): 39.30"
Min: 18.40"
Max: 81.30"
25th Percentile: 33.50"
75th Percentile: 50.85"

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