How will you remember this winter 2010/2011?

[A-L-E-X]

Those 6 snow days you got were more than I saw in my entire elementary and secondary school career

Actually grades 1-12 = 0 snowdays for me.

You can throw nursery and kindergarten in there too

[Chris L]

Wow, this must have been a very different winter for you guys in terms of how you perceived the storms. Boxing Day was such an all-time historical event for NJ with the 30"+ totals and 50mph winds, and the 1/27 event wasn't far from a HECS.

Here in the northern suburbs, the events were all fun but no storm came close to HECS criteria. Boxing Day was most dramatic for the high winds and low visibilities, whereas the January 11th event was the "quiet" snowfall. 1/27 had hammering sleet and also near whiteout conditions at the peak of the storm with the heavy overnight banding, so it was great too. But none of these storms were like a '96 for me whereas you guys can at least compare to that level.

Yeah, Nate. It was pretty amazing on December 27th: I masurred 20.5" in blacktop pavement at 11 AM. In some grassy spots, I had up to 27". Toward the end of my driveway, I measured a crazy 33". But too high due to some rooftop blown snow and drift.

towns surrounding my area got 23-25" range, so I went with 24".

Westfield, the town next to John, offically had 26.5 and 29.8" (Two reports, though) And the Elizabeth NJ had 31.8", which I believe 100% is true, they were getting mauled with snow.

[famartin]

"How will you remember this winter 2010/2011?"

For Elko: Good start, horrible middle and end.

For back home: Missed the best part of the Boxing Day Blizzard by about 25 miles. Then wasn't able to get home at all during the snowiest January ever recorded. Heartwrenching. Gradually increasing levels of relief as winter fell apart after the end of January.

[nzucker]

That really was the most awesome storm in how it developed and even though it wasnt officially a blizzard, it had more blizzard conditions than any of the others that season. How long did it last for you -- was it over 30 hours? I remember a heavy band of snow still dropping snow in the afternoon of the second day of the storm.

It lasted about 24 hours for me...when I arrived home from Middlebury at 4:30am, there was some light snow/rain mix falling. It snowed until the wee hours of the next night in terms of the main storm, and then we had some flurries/snow showers the next day as the low retrograded and filled. The 2/25 Snowicane is my favorite storm ever in that it completely symbolizes the bizarre extreme blocking pattern that characterized the 09-10 Winter, having a 970mb low make landfall at the RI/CT border and then retrograde back towards NYC. These systems usually retrograde in the Gulf of Maine or Canadian Maritimes in a -NAO regime; to see this occur at NYC's latitude is an historic event in and of itself, and it wasn't until a few days before the storm that the models abandoned the former, more common scenario in favor of having the storm retrograde over NYC. The 3"/hour snowfall rates and the sheer duration of the storm, as well as the 35mph winds, make it one of the greatest and rarest tempests I've ever witnessed. For sure, we'll see another 1/27/2011; even Boxing Day will probably come again in our lifetimes. But the 2/25 Snowicane? We're probably talking about a 1 in 100 year event.

Evening of 2/25:

[nzucker]

Those 6 snow days you got were more than I saw in my entire elementary and secondary school career

I really didn't like them because I've been subbing on a per-diem basis, so I lose money when school is closed.

I did have a bunch of well-deserved snow days in HS...I was in high school for NYC's crazy streak: 02-03 to 05-06. A lot of the big storms did occur on off days: Christmas 2002, PDII, February 2006...but there were certainly some snow days during those years, especially in 02-03 and 03-04. Don't think we had many in senior year, maybe one for the December 2005 snowfall.

[CAT5ANDREW]

I was at the canarsie train yard in Carnise Brooklyn at 6AM on 2/25.THe rain changed to snow at 7AM and there was wet snow throughout the day there until about 2PM when it got heavy and really started accumulating.It snowed until 4PM when I got home in Rego park Queens. there was 4 inches on the ground and the snow had stopped.I was shocked to hear that Eastern Queens had just rain the whole day.The snow then redeveloped at 11PM and went on heavy until 8AM the next morning.I got 19 inches total in that event.That was a great storm and it made FEB 6th a bit less painful.Think about this.After FEB 6th and 10th,BALT/WASH got NOTHING on 2/25-26 and 12-26/27.

[Mitchel Volk]

A very interesting winter from December to the end of January, after that we had the earliest spring part I on record. I would rate it 8 out of 10 due to that incredbile 40 days of storms.

[Chris L]

I was at the canarsie train yard in Carnise Brooklyn at 6AM on 2/25.THe rain changed to snow at 7AM and there was wet snow throughout the day there until about 2PM when it got heavy and really started accumulating.It snowed until 4PM when I got home in Rego park Queens. there was 4 inches on the ground and the snow had stopped.I was shocked to hear that Eastern Queens had just rain the whole day.The snow then redeveloped at 11PM and went on heavy until 8AM the next morning.I got 19 inches total in that event.That was a great storm and it made FEB 6th a bit less painful.Think about this.After FEB 6th and 10th,BALT/WASH got NOTHING on 2/25-26 and 12-26/27.

Yes, but they (Balt suburbs) had 40-48 inches of snow on the ground evening of February 10th. Something we NEVER and probably will never see.

[A-L-E-X]

Question about the snowicane, Nate, did the forecasted track of the storm change in the last few runs, because I remember Philly and South Jersey (even Central NJ) was supposed to get a lot more than they actually got-- and what was the track change? Did the looping occur at the idea location to give NYC the most snow it could have gotten or would a different track have been even better?

I know it would have been a 30 inch storm with ease if it was a bit colder, but I dont know if a slightly different track might have helped also. For sure, I would have easily doubled my snowfall totals with a few degrees more cold, especially in the first half of the storm.

[CAT5ANDREW]

<br />Actually grades 1-12 = 0 snowdays for me.<br /><br /><br />You can throw nursery and kindergarten in there too <img src='http://208.71.34.143/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

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I offically missed out on the JAN/FEB 1978 snow days because I was being transferred from one school to another between JAN 15 and FEB 15 1978.I was home during that time so I NEVER got to enjoy a School snow day in my lifetime.FEB 1983 was on a Friday.

Schools were OPEN during the DEC 1973 ice storm that Monday and I was in school that Monday.I walked with my mom around fallen trees and wires and icy sidewalks and streets.

[A-L-E-X]

Yes, but they (Balt suburbs) had 40-48 inches of snow on the ground evening of February 10th. Something we NEVER and probably will never see.

We need to get the following pattern to beat that....

Nov .... Portland storm repeat

Dec .... Boxing Day repeat

Jan. .... Jan 96 Blizzard repeat

Feb .... PD2 repeat

Mar .... March 1888 repeat

April .... April 1982 repeat

Could you imagine if all that happened in the same winter?

[CAT5ANDREW]

<br />Yes, but they (Balt suburbs) had 40-48 inches of snow on the ground evening of February 10th. Something we NEVER and probably will never see.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Thats OK this winterwith the consistent 12+inch snowpack was enough.Parking was horrible for over 6 weeks here.The snow piles were insane and were like glaciers.4 feet of snowcover would be dangerous here.As much as I loved the snowfall,it was the worst driving conditions I have ever experienced because of the snowpiles.

Walking on the tracks in the train yards was also murder on my hamstrings as well as having to wonder where the third rail was hidden.THat was tough.

[CAT5ANDREW]

<br />We need to get the following pattern to beat that....<br /><br />Nov .... Portland storm repeat<br /><br />Dec .... Boxing Day repeat<br /><br />Jan. .... Jan 96 Blizzard repeat<br /><br />Feb ....  PD2 repeat<br /><br />Mar .... March 1888 repeat<br /><br />April .... April 1982 repeat<br /><br />Could you imagine if all that happened in the same winter?<br />

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How much did Portland Get?

You forget FEB 1978 and 1983.

[nzucker]

Question about the snowicane, Nate, did the forecasted track of the storm change in the last few runs, because I remember Philly and South Jersey (even Central NJ) was supposed to get a lot more than they actually got-- and what was the track change? Did the looping occur at the idea location to give NYC the most snow it could have gotten or would a different track have been even better?

I know it would have been a 30 inch storm with ease if it was a bit colder, but I dont know if a slightly different track might have helped also. For sure, I would have easily doubled my snowfall totals with a few degrees more cold, especially in the first half of the storm.

I don't remember too much of a change except the storm became a bit colder in the final runs, keeping the 850 0C line entirely to my east whereas the GFS had shown it over Southern Westchester for a while. If anything, that might have indicated a slight shift north that kept PHL/NJ from seeing heavier amounts, but there was also a bad dryslot in NNJ that slashed totals, due to subsidence from the heavy band over, well, me

I think the storm took an ideal track for NYC considering the amount of cold air available; we received 2-3" of QPF and over 20" of snow. Had it come any closer, it would have been rain....even I was fighting mixing for much of the day at 350' elevation in Westchester, as I could see the bright-banding on radar from the huge flakes, some of which were probably melting with surface temps in the 33-34F range.

[CAT5ANDREW]

<br />I don't remember too much of a change except the storm became a bit colder in the final runs, keeping the 850 0C line entirely to my east whereas the GFS had shown it over Southern Westchester for a while. If anything, that might have indicated a <i>slight</i> shift north that kept PHL/NJ from seeing heavier amounts, but there was also a bad dryslot in NNJ that slashed totals, due to subsidence from the heavy band over, well, me <img src="http://208.71.34.143/public/style_emoticons/default/thumbsupsmileyanim.gif" /><br /><br />I think the storm took an ideal track for NYC considering the amount of cold air available; we received 2-3" of QPF and over 20" of snow. Had it come any closer, it would have been rain....even I was fighting mixing for much of the day at 350' elevation in Westchester, as I could see the bright-banding on radar from the huge flakes, some of which were probably melting with surface temps in the 33-34F range.<br />

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Woodbury Commons shopping center had 36 inches.Monroe NY also got that much I recall.

[A-L-E-X]

<br /><br /><br />

How much did Portland Get?

You forget FEB 1978 and 1983.

Yes, I was trying to pick one storm for each month and couldnt come up with anything recent in November and March -- because those have been bad months for us recently I believe Portland got over 20" in that one and we got about 10-11" It was on the last day of November.

That winter had a big November and February with the Portland storm in November and February 1899 HECS.

[A-L-E-X]

I don't remember too much of a change except the storm became a bit colder in the final runs, keeping the 850 0C line entirely to my east whereas the GFS had shown it over Southern Westchester for a while. If anything, that might have indicated a slight shift north that kept PHL/NJ from seeing heavier amounts, but there was also a bad dryslot in NNJ that slashed totals, due to subsidence from the heavy band over, well, me

I think the storm took an ideal track for NYC considering the amount of cold air available; we received 2-3" of QPF and over 20" of snow. Had it come any closer, it would have been rain....even I was fighting mixing for much of the day at 350' elevation in Westchester, as I could see the bright-banding on radar from the huge flakes, some of which were probably melting with surface temps in the 33-34F range.

I was wondering if it was slightly further south and east if more cold air might have gotten into it to bring even more snow.

[MJO812]

I really thought NYC had a chance to break the snowfall record. By Feb 1, Central Park had 56 inches and I already had 60 inches of snow. I thought it was a lock. Stupid Strong La Nina and -PNA

The enduring snowcover and the frequency of snowstorms during the period of cold is what actually made this winter wonderful. Usually, when we get long periods of below normal temps, it's pretty dry. And it usually warms up between snowstorms so it melts-- neither happened this winter until the pattern finally broke.

I have never seen snowcover like this in my life. Like you said, usually there are warmups after storms. There wasn't at all during that period. Everything went right for the area.

[weatherMA]

Actually grades 1-12 = 0 snowdays for me.

You can throw nursery and kindergarten in there too

Holy crap. I don't think I've ever had a year without a snow day. Although I do average probably double what you average, but still.

[nzucker]

Holy crap. I don't think I've ever had a year without a snow day. Although I do average probably double what you average, but still.

We haven't had too many years without a snow day in Westchester. 01-02 and 97-98 were definitely times we didn't get one. Usually the northern suburbs which are colder and depend on driving heavily almost always see at least one day off. We had 6 this year.

[weatherMA]

We haven't had too many years without a snow day in Westchester. 01-02 and 97-98 were definitely times we didn't get one. Usually the northern suburbs which are colder and depend on driving heavily almost always see at least one day off. We had 6 this year.

6 here as well.

Also, for perspective, here are my totals for the 3 storms you guy discussed.

12/26: 12"

1/12: 17"

1/27: 12.6"

All great storms, but you guys still win the battle this year as far as historic snowfalls. I got a lot of other 6-9"+ storms and nuisance snows that the NYC region didn't get, hence my 84" total, compared to your 68".

[nzucker]

Also, for perspective, here are my totals for the 3 storms you guy discussed.

12/26: 12"

1/12: 17"

1/27: 12.6"

Your area did pretty poorly in Boxing Day compared to Boston, unfortunately. I had one of the lowest totals in the NYC metro region, and may have undermeasured, yet still recorded more. However, your snowpack was EXTREMELY impressive this season...you spent a long time with 20" on the ground, whereas I only had that much snow for about a week. The higher latitude and elevation at ORH really pay off, especially those extra few hundred feet that allow you to keep snow better than the valley floor/coastal plain. I'm at about 350', had snow cover here from 12/26 to 2/18...12" was on the ground from 1/12 to 2/13. Patchy snow survived in the woods until the rainstorm in early March.

My totals from this year certainly don't match last year's madness, however. Here was 09-10:

2/25/10: 26"

2/10/10: 12.5"

12/19/09: 8.0"

2/16/10: 6.5"

[weatherMA]

Your area did pretty poorly in Boxing Day compared to Boston, unfortunately. I had one of the lowest totals in the NYC metro region, and may have undermeasured, yet still recorded more. However, your snowpack was EXTREMELY impressive this season...you spent a long time with 20" on the ground, whereas I only had that much snow for about a week. The higher latitude and elevation at ORH really pay off, especially those extra few hundred feet that allow you to keep snow better than the valley floor/coastal plain. I'm at about 350', had snow cover here from 12/26 to 2/18...12" was on the ground from 1/12 to 2/13. Patchy snow survived in the woods until the rainstorm in early March.

My totals from this year certainly don't match last year's madness, however. Here was 09-10:

2/25/10: 26"

2/10/10: 12.5"

12/19/09: 8.0"

2/16/10: 6.5"

Honestly, its fortunate that my area did bad compared to Boston, since I was In Florida. I would've been pissed. With regards to measuring...the 17" on 1/12 might be under measured as Ray and Will came in with around 20", but it could be Will's elevation, too. With regards to snow pack, it was EPIC. I had 1" or more on the ground from 12/26-3/12. I had over a foot from 1/12 to 3/1. I also had a period of about 2 weeks from 1/27 to 2/10 or so with 30" or more on the ground, peak was 34". There are still a few epic piles left to remember this winter by.

Heres my top 2 totals and the only 2 that verified warning criteria of last years pathetic winter:

19/19-20: 10.5

12/9: 7.2

[Momza]

Whats up dudes. First of all, I haven't been around the past few weeks at all for a few reasons...one because the weather is boring as hell, two because I have had some health problems..and three because it's warm and I play baseball and like to be outside with girls.

Anyway..For me it's simple...I will always remember this winter for the days preceding the Dec 26 blizzard. I have literally never experienced anything like that..we are a rare group, those of us who understand the emotional investment into snowstorm modeling. But this one reigns supreme for me and it's not even close.

I remember the afternoon of Dec 25 a friend of mine called me at 12:45pm, I was sound asleep..pissed off from the previous night's model runs. But as as soon as I saw the phone ringing three times, I knew what it was. The previous night I had stayed up until 4:30am on this forum talking with baroclinic_instability about how every single model was taking the shortwave over the plains and trending it west by 25-50 miles each run. It wasn't producing surface effects yet, but it was like lighting a match in a room filled with kerosene. Eventually, you'll hit the tipping point and everything will explode. If these trends continued we could pull off an upset.

So when I checked my voicemails, all I heard was "OMG!!!!!". I was immediately wired, called back. He picked up and it was mass hysteria, I saw the GFS, etc etc. And then came the initialization errors...the rest of the day was a blur. But that night was, obviously, Christmas Eve, so I remember being out to dinner with the family. I went into the bathroom and checked the SREFs, screamed YEAH BABY in the bathroom, got a few weird looks, and the rest of the night just checked the phone constantly. Between the NAM and the GFS coming west, it was one of the most adrenaline filled dinners of all time.

But the real magic occurred past 12am that night, when the Euro started running and out to 12 hours it became clear what was going on. We were actually going to pull this off. It was so much more amplified for a 12 hour forecast that I literally couldn't believe what I was seeing. I remember Dxsnow53 posted saying "I'm almost crying". As history has it, it showed a tremendous mega blizzard, I posted the miracle on ice video, and we were all buried with enough snow over the next four weeks to make us happy forever. I included the post below. What's your story?

http://www.americanw...post__p__176304

Hey Earthlight, Didn't you post "The Christmas Miracle" at apprx 11 A.m Christmas Eve. Were you sleepwalking? lol

[NortheastPAWx]

I'll remember it as a "blah" winter...besides the 3-hour dynamic +TSSN on March 7th it was a subpar winter here in NEPA, with as you know, all the big storms putting us on the wrong side of the cutoff.

[RutgersWx92]

Wow, this must have been a very different winter for you guys in terms of how you perceived the storms. Boxing Day was such an all-time historical event for NJ with the 30"+ totals and 50mph winds, and the 1/27 event wasn't far from a HECS.

Here in the northern suburbs, the events were all fun but no storm came close to HECS criteria. Boxing Day was most dramatic for the high winds and low visibilities, whereas the January 11th event was the "quiet" snowfall. 1/27 had hammering sleet and also near whiteout conditions at the peak of the storm with the heavy overnight banding, so it was great too. But none of these storms were like a '96 for me whereas you guys can at least compare to that level.

Only eastern NJ though, it certainly wasn't anything remotely historical for western NJ. Which is why the Boxing Day storm will never compare to January 1996 for overall areal coverage and impact.

[A-L-E-X]

Holy crap. I don't think I've ever had a year without a snow day. Although I do average probably double what you average, but still.

Well if you listen to Will, he's said a 3-6 inch snowstorm was rare even in ORH back in the late 80s and early 90s.

[A-L-E-X]

We haven't had too many years without a snow day in Westchester. 01-02 and 97-98 were definitely times we didn't get one. Usually the northern suburbs which are colder and depend on driving heavily almost always see at least one day off. We had 6 this year.

You would have had a lot of snowday less winters back in the late 80s and early 90s -- we basically had Atlanta's climate lol.

[weatherMA]

Well if you listen to Will, he's said a 3-6 inch snowstorm was rare even in ORH back in the late 80s and early 90s.

Wow, good thing I wasn't born yet, lol.

[A-L-E-X]

Honestly, its fortunate that my area did bad compared to Boston, since I was In Florida. I would've been pissed. With regards to measuring...the 17" on 1/12 might be under measured as Ray and Will came in with around 20", but it could be Will's elevation, too. With regards to snow pack, it was EPIC. I had 1" or more on the ground from 12/26-3/12. I had over a foot from 1/12 to 3/1. I also had a period of about 2 weeks from 1/27 to 2/10 or so with 30" or more on the ground, peak was 34". There are still a few epic piles left to remember this winter by.

Heres my top 2 totals and the only 2 that verified warning criteria of last years pathetic winter:

19/19-20: 10.5

12/9: 7.2

Wow, now I feel bad about being upset about barely missing out on 2/6 last year. Even without that we got about 60-- and matched that total this winter.