So far this winter season appears to be a let down for snow enthusiasts, but that is not really the statistical case. As of the end of Thursday, February 21, we were only 4.7 inches below the average for the season to this point. And we all know that we can easily pick that up in a few hours!
So why does it seem like this winter has been so wimpy? Well, since we have had 69.9 inches of snow this year, compared to the whopping 90.2" we had this time last year, we may now have a thicker skin when it comes to snow.
We can look even deeper into the stats to figure out why this winter hasn't produced the feeling that the past few have had. We have to keep this in mind. When it comes to the snowiest winters on record, many of the past few years have high on the charts.
1. 149.1 (2000-01)
2. 143.0 (2002-03)
3. 142.8 (1977-78)
4. 131.3 (1993-94)
5. 129.2 (1995-96)
6. 124.9 (1985-86)
7. 122.6 (2004-05)
8. 120.0 (1970-71)
9. 115.9 (1963-64)
10. 114.9 (1989-90)
If you notice, by these numbers, half of the 10 snowiest winters have been in the last 15 years. So, while close to average for the snow season, our 69.9 inches (as of this posting) has just been overshadowed.
Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist