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| Source: NCDC |
For the Northern Hemisphere, in particular, it was a scorcher. Only 2006/07 is close and there are only five years within even 0.5ºF, which is a big number when talking about average climate over an entire hemisphere.
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| Source: NCDC |
In the contiguous US, we were a country divided. The entire Pacific coast and much of the southwest saw their warmest Dec-Feb on record. Most of the remaining mountain west was much above average. Most of the east was below average, but no climate zones has a top-10 coldest winter.
%2B%5D.jpg) |
| Source: NCDC |
However, February was a fairly exceptional month in the east with many climate zones in the upper midwest and the north east observing their coldest or 2nd coldest February on record.
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| Source: NCDC |
Adding to the intensity of the winter in the east, especially during February was an active storm track, with winter storms affecting the southeast and record snowfall observed along the Massachusetts and Maine coasts. Boston and Worcester set all time records for snowiest February and winter. Frequent storms and persistent cold led to a remarkable snowpack. In Eastport Maine, snow depths increased from 0 on the 24th of January to 78.5 inches on the 16th of February. If only Utah enjoyed such a storm cycle this year!
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| Data Source: NOAA/NOHRSC |
Global temperature analyse show what a remarkable February that it was in the eastern US and eastern North America as a whole, which was by far the coldest region on the planet relative to climatological averages. In contrast, western North America and a vast swath of Asia and Africa were well above average. The Heat Miser is winning, but Snow Miser can still have his fun from time to time.
For Utahn's, the main question now is can we set the all-time low snow record at Alta? I'm now giving that a 60% chance. The countdown is on!
60% Chance? Considering how things have gone this winter why are you shooting so low? History shows we usually get the precipitation in April, but just because its precipitation doesn't mean its going to be snow. Alta needs what another 90" to met the current record? No way that happens, 95% chance we get the record.
ReplyDeleteLike the show House of Cards, even though its hard to watch doesn't mean it inst actually happening, this winter is going to stay the course. Hillary 2016......yeah
Yeah, 60 was probably low. I didn't give it much thought. Not sure I'd go up to 95 though. Let's split the difference...77.5%. That sounds good.
DeleteRight, to not get the record we would need any precipitation that falls to come down as snow and given everything you just said above there's no way that's going to happen. If it does come it will most likely fall as rain. I still think we won't just set a new record, but will smash the old record.
ReplyDeleteAlta rarely sees rain in April. The fact that Dec-March were warm is irrelevant, for all we know, it could be a cold and snowy April. Probably not, but rain is still historically unlikely at that elevation.
DeleteRight, but this most likely won't be a normal April, more like May/June, when it can rain at Alta. Given how far away from normal we've been this season I think we need to continue with the assumption that April is going to behave a lot like Dec/Jan/Feb/Mar only warmer.
Deletethis year has been the very defenition of historically unlikely, I believe its going to stick to that mantra for the rest of the season.
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