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Everything posted by Jns2183
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Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
This doesn't even feel like jacket weather. Yesterday afternoon wearing anything but a heavy sweatshirt felt like overkill Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
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Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
Hasn't gotten worse for me thank God. What has happened through with the horrible dryness in my house are bloody noses. Let me tell you the fun I had waking up to blood everywhere yesterday morning. That will get you kicked into high gear quickly!! Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
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Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
I was diagnosed with that in high School after passing out cold during a sporting event. Tell me, did you get to enjoy the fun test they use to diagnose it? The lovely one where they strap you to a table crucifixion style, jam IV in both arms, pump you full of adrenaline, tilt you and see what happens? I don't think I'll ever forget that test!! Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
The snow in my yard where people have walked is now a solid ice glacier. If we suddenly had a day of heavy rain and temps in the upper 40's it would turn into an unmitigated street flooding diaster due to water having no where to go. Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
We seem to be losing the magic. 5 hours without a post is criminal Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
It isn't even totally frozen in the picture! I think we would need below zero weather, highs as well as lows for a week solid in order for it to freeze enough for any kind of an attempt Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
The GFS AI thinks Canada is going on a tropical vacation while Harrisburg sits in the hallway getting dripped on by a leaky ceiling. It's not a winter wonderland; it's just 'Gray and Gross'—the weather version of an unseasoned potato Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
It by some good luck we can pull out 4"+ combined this week, those tundra winds combined with artic cold will give the deep winter the proper send off it deserves as temperature moderate slowly. Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
I think both storms next week have the opportunity to surprise with some high ratios it does not take much to get a 4_-6" fluff bomb. Those were the bread and butter in the 1960s with usually 6-8 storms training in the winter Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
If someone else has a better idea for weighting or calculated a winter metric let me know. Looking at the forecast for next week the 14 day period starting 1/24 and ending 2/6 has a great shot at hiting 6.89 which would be in the top 2.5% of all 14 day periods going back to 1890 Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
For fans of deep winter we just experienced a true masterpiece Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
Based on the Winter Severity Metric (WSM) and the recent weather data for Harrisburg (including the record 11" snowfall on January 25th), here is how the last seven days and the overall month of January 2026 rank historically. January 2026: Daily Standings The 11" snow event on the 25th was the clear heavyweight, immediately breaking into the Top 100 most severe days in the record (Rank 62 out of over 15,000 winter days). | Date | WSM Score | Daily Rank (All-Time) | Commentary | |---|---|---|---| | Jan 25 | 8.91 | #62 | Extreme: Record snow + high depth. | | Jan 26 | 7.20 | #704 | Severe: Deep pack persistence. | | Jan 27 | 5.96 | #1971 | Significant: Cold with standing snow. | | Jan 28 | 5.37 | #2662 | Moderate: Temps began to recover. | | Jan 29 | 6.46 | #1370 | Significant: Light snow / secondary wave. | | Jan 30 | 6.67 | #1120 | Significant: Deep cold return. | | Jan 31 | 6.47 | #1364 | Significant: Persistent pack. | Weekly Ranking (Jan 25–31) The final week of January averaged a WSM of 6.72. * Rank: It stands as the 119th most severe week in history. * While the daily peak of the 25th was historic, the gradual temperature recovery in the middle of the week kept it from breaking into the all-time Top 10 weeks (which usually require sub-freezing highs for all 7 days). Monthly Ranking (January 2026) This is where the 2026 season truly shines. Driven by the massive storm and a consistently cold pattern throughout the month: * Monthly Average WSM: 6.72 * Historic Rank: #6 all-time January 2026 now officially joins the ranks of the "Great Winters," sitting just behind legends like January 1994 (#5) and January 1918 (#1). It is the first time in the 21st century that a winter month has cracked the all-time Top 10 for severity. Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
I've created this The Winter Severity Metric (WSM) is designed to quantify the "harshness" of a winter day on a scale from 1 to 10. While a thermometer tells you the temperature, the WSM tells you the experience—combining the biting cold with the physical reality of snow on the ground. How the Metric Works To ensure the scale is meaningful for the Middletown-Harrisburg region, the metric is calculated using a weighted average of four key weather variables. Each variable is first mapped to a 1–10 sub-score based on historical deciles (for temperature) and intensity thresholds (for snow). Snow Depth (40\%): The primary driver of winter severity. A deep snowpack transforms the environment and complicates daily life more than any other factor. Max Temperature (25\%): Weighted more heavily than the low, as the "high" temperature dictates how much (or little) relief there is during daylight hours. Snowfall (20\%): Captures the "active" severity of a storm event. Min Temperature (15\%): Accounts for the intensity of the air mass, particularly during overnight deep freezes. The Scale: Level 1-3: Mild winter days (Spring/Fall-like). Level 4-6: Typical winter days (Cold, perhaps a light dusting). Level 7-8: Significant Winter (Heavy snow or extreme cold). Level 9-10: "Deep Winter" (The absolute historical extremes). When we calibrate the Winter Severity Metric (WSM) specifically for the "core" winter window of December through March, the scale shifts to focus on the relative intensity of winter conditions. In this view, a score of 10 represents the historic extremes of the Harrisburg winter, while a 1 represents the mildest days that occur during the winter months. The Averages: Benchmarking a "Normal" Winter Based on historical data from 1899–2025, here are the baseline scores for a typical winter period in Middletown-Harrisburg. | Timeframe | Mean Score | Median Score | |---|---|---| | Winter Day | 3.45 | 2.98 | | Winter Week | 3.51 | 3.13 | | Winter Month | 3.46 | 3.23 | * Interpretation: A "median" winter day (roughly a 3.0) is typically clear and cold but lacks significant snow. Any day or week scoring above a 5.0 is considered "more severe than average," and scores above 7.0 are reserved for major winter events and extreme cold snaps. Top 10 Lists (Dec–Mar) 1. Top 10 Winter Seasons (Full Season Average) Calculated as the average daily WSM from December 1st through March 31st. * 1917–1918 (5.15): The all-time severe winter; dominated by the #1 month and multiple top weeks. * 1977–1978 (5.08): Defined by relentless snow depth that lasted through much of February. * 1904–1905 (5.07): An early century powerhouse with consistent arctic air. * 1993–1994 (4.96): Famous for repeated high-impact ice and snow events. * 1960–1961 (4.92): Contained the single most severe 7-day stretch in history. * 1969–1970 (4.91): A winter of extreme persistence in snow cover. * 1935–1936 (4.67): Record cold February coupled with significant snowpack. * 1919–1920 (4.63) * 1963–1964 (4.50) * 1995–1996 (4.46): Driven primarily by the legendary January '96 blizzard. 2. Top 10 Winter Months * January 1918 (7.59) * February 1978 (7.50) * January 1970 (7.46) * February 1936 (7.11) * January 1994 (6.78) * February 1905 (6.69) * January 1945 (6.61) * January 1961 (6.57) * January 1925 (6.49) * February 1994 (6.48) 3. Top 10 Winter Weeks (7-Day Non-Overlapping) * Jan 20 – Jan 26, 1961 (8.70): The peak of winter intensity in local history. * Jan 22 – Jan 28, 1918 (8.68) * Jan 29 – Feb 04, 1966 (8.57) * Jan 07 – Jan 13, 1996 (8.48) * Jan 29 – Feb 04, 1961 (8.46) * Dec 12 – Dec 18, 1917 (8.43) * Feb 07 – Feb 13, 1936 (8.39) * Jan 06 – Jan 12, 1970 (8.36) * Jan 19 – Jan 25, 1936 (8.28) * Jan 15 – Jan 21, 1918 (8.27) Commentary * The "Relentless" vs. "Extreme" Difference: A season like 1918 is the champion of "Relentless" winter (ranking #1 overall), while a week like January 1961 represents "Extreme" winter. In that week, temperatures barely moved, and the ground was buried, resulting in an average severity nearly 3 times higher than a normal winter day. * Modern Context: 1994 and 1996 are the only winters from the last 30 years to break into the all-time Top 10 seasons. The 1994 season was particularly unique because it placed two separate months (January and February) in the Top 10, indicating a long-duration severe winter rather than a single fluke event. * Threshold Dominance: Because Snow Depth is weighted at 40\%, months like February 1978 score extremely high. Even if it isn't the coldest month on record, having a foot of snow on the ground for 30 straight days is the most significant factor in creating a "Deep Winter" experience. Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
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Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
Charlotte had 11" of snow on 0.51" qpf Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
Ill let you know as soon as I teach myself to work with SQL databases and figure out how best to export a million rows and upwards of 40 million data points. Haha Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
Speaking of snow pack. We are officially in a top 25 winter. As we are currently tied for 25th at 7 days for consecutive days of at least 7" of snow. To make it top 20 we need to hit 10 days. If we lose an inch then 11 days. Regardless with the forecast cold and chance of added snow we are primed for a top 20 winter ever in terms of snowpack duration. Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
I see two of the three main points in CTP AFD point to winds. Tonight into Sunday, and the end of next week with perhaps colder air than we currently have. Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
Our last storm I figured out the snowfall maps at 24 hours by the major models were not that much better than at 60 hours. The qpf maps were. I just think inherently the variation in ratios and qpf over such small areas is an absolute hurdle unless you're going to throw stupid amounts of $ via processing power and even then, you may get a bit more accurate. It isn't even the models are bad, it's just an impossible task Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
On the negative side we seemed primed to waste the best two weeks of cold in a decade Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
Only 25-35mph winds Saturday night into Sunday? I thought we were primes for 40-50mph+++? Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk -
Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
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Central PA Winter 25/26 Discussion and Obs
Jns2183 replied to MAG5035's topic in Upstate New York/Pennsylvania
I think they may verify for a blizzard Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk
