20 years ago,the 1991-92 winter was supposed to be epic for cold and snow

[CAT5ANDREW]

After going through what was then the warmest spring and top 10 hottest summer on record,the forecasts were for a very cold and snowy winter that would finally end the snow drought we had been in since the blizzard of Feb 1983.Everyone..and I mean Everyone who was a pro meteorologist had this winter being a slam dunk for cold and snow.I was looking forward to finally experiencing the snowiest winter since 1977-78.

DEC came and went with virtually nothing.JAN got cold around mid month but also had little snow.FEB was awful with hardly a snowflake.We get to march 19th and I had a whopping 1.4 inches for the entire winter up to that point.We had a 6 inch storm that day and another 6 incher on the 22nd,but despite the mini comeback,it was another lousy winter and a huge letdown from what was expected.It was as benign winter as I have ever experienced here.Thankfully though that was the last of the truly horrible winters of that period.

[TheTrials]

After going through what was then the warmest spring and top 10 hottest summer on record,the forecasts were for a very cold and snowy winter that would finally end the snow drought we had been in since the blizzard of Feb 1983.Everyone..and I mean Everyone who was a pro meteorologist had this winter being a slam dunk for cold and snow.I was looking forward to finally experiencing the snowiest winter since 1977-78.

DEC came and went with virtually nothing.JAN got cold around mid month but also had little snow.FEB was awful with hardly a snowflake.We get to march 19th and I had a whopping 1.4 inches for the entire winter up to that point.We had a 6 inch storm that day and another 6 incher on the 22nd,but despite the mini comeback,it was another lousy winter and a huge letdown from what was expected.It was as benign winter as I have ever experienced here.Thankfully though that was the last of the truly horrible winters of that period.

Agreed, HOWEVER, the late season snow was a good sign IMHO to finally break the miserable stretch of the 80s and first few years of the 90's as 92-93, 93-94, 95-96 wiped away a lot of bad memories.

[SnowGoose69]

I remember that winter well. It was my last one in Queens. There was an awesome snow squall during the afternoon on the 1st or 2nd day of December. We then got about a half inch from a clipper a few days later. Thereafter it was basically clippers all winter long with a few minor events here and there. We had some bad breaks, the January 12th event which hit Montauk and RI which was supposed to be a decent event for NYC...there was also another bust in February...cannot recall the date but it was a Monday a SW flow or clipper event which dropped more south than expected and the AM 3-5 inch forecasts turned into nothing but snow flurries. Those 2 March events were a big surprise...especially the coastal low one which was supposed to change to rain yet never did.

[uncle W]

The two March snowfalls in 1992 was the first time snow fell on existing snowcover since January 1988...

[Sundog]

The two March snowfalls in 1992 was the first time snow fell on existing snowcover since January 1988...

That is crazy to think about. I don't think I can handle another stretch of horrible winters. For me the most memorable horrible stretch is the 96-97 through 99-00 time period as I was in the 8th through 11th grades then and was old enough to have clear memories of those lousy winters.

[TheTrials]

That is crazy to think about. I don't think I can handle another stretch of horrible winters. For me the most memorable horrible stretch is the 96-97 through 99-00 time period as I was in the 8th through 11th grades then and was old enough to have clear memories of those lousy winters.

LOL, try growing up in the 80's. Those years were nothing compared to the horrid stretch of the middle and late 80s.

[Brian5671]

imagine the suicides here if such a winter were to happen this year....

[TheTrials]

imagine the suicides here if such a winter were to happen this year....

We just came off of two back to back pretty good winters, very good in some parts, almost historic in others, hopefully that will tide a few people over.

[CAT5ANDREW]

LOL, try growing up in the 80's.  Those years were nothing compared to the horrid stretch of the middle and late 80s.

Have to disagree with you on his.Between the winters of 1996-97 and 2001-02 not only did Ireceive less than 10 inches in 4 of the 5 winters,those 4 out of 5 winters were all in the top 10 warmest.During the 1980s snow drought,only 1988-89 had less than 10 inches and there were some decent cold spells.

[ORH_wxman]

Have to disagree with you on his.Between the winters of 1996-97 and 2001-02 not only did Ireceive less than 10 inches in 4 of the 5 winters,those 4 out of 5 winters were all in the top 10 warmest.During the 1980s snow drought,only 1988-89 had less than 10 inches and there were some decent cold spells.

The mid 80s through early 90s was a longer stretch of futility for that region. Late 90s might have peaked worse than the 80/early 90s stretch but at least it was only 4 years.

[Stormlover74]

Agree. We had snow days off from school and at least one 4" storm from 85-89. 97-98 and 01-02 basically didn't even get 5" total, 98-99 had maybe 2 decent storms, 99-00 had a couple small ones and the January fairly big one.

Have to disagree with you on his.Between the winters of 1996-97 and 2001-02 not only did Ireceive less than 10 inches in 4 of the 5 winters,those 4 out of 5 winters were all in the top 10 warmest.During the 1980s snow drought,only 1988-89 had less than 10 inches and there were some decent cold spells.

[RutgersWx92]

That is crazy to think about. I don't think I can handle another stretch of horrible winters. For me the most memorable horrible stretch is the 96-97 through 99-00 time period as I was in the 8th through 11th grades then and was old enough to have clear memories of those lousy winters.

Thankfully I was too young to remember that lousy stretch and I wasn't even alive for the 80's. The worst period I can remember was from after the February 2006 blizzard up through 06-07 and 07-08, during which I was a freshman and sophomore in high school. I'm sure it wasn't as bad as the late 80's-early 90's or late 90's, but it was still pretty lousy. The February 2006 blizzard was great but it melted very quickly and we had virtually no snow after it that winter, and from after that storm (February 12, 2006) until the February 22, 2008 snow event which gave me 6.5'' (a period of two years), I didn't see a single snow event greater than 2.5 inches.

[KEITH L.I]

91-92 was a strong Nino.i don't know if the forecasters used that as a tool,.but if they did they would probably have known the winter would suck,which it did

[Stormlover74]

Yeah that was also a pretty bad stretch. When I was in school in the 80s I can remember significant snows of 4 to 7" in 85, 86, 88 and 89 as well as 4 snow days in the 86-87 winter including nearly a foot of snow in the 1/22/87 storm. 89-90 sucked, 90-91 was warm but managed 2 decent events, and 91-92 has been discussed. 92-93 and 93-94 I think most people are plenty familiar with. So there was an 8 to 10 year stretch of below normal snowfall but virtually every winter managed at least one decent, plowable event along with enough cold air for the snow to stick around. That can't be said for 97-98, 01-02, or even 06-07 since most of it was sleet and like you mentioned we squeezed out one nice event in Feb 08.

Thankfully I was too young to remember that lousy stretch and I wasn't even alive for the 80's. The worst period I can remember was from after the February 2006 blizzard up through 06-07 and 07-08, during which I was a freshman and sophomore in high school. I'm sure it wasn't as bad as the late 80's-early 90's or late 90's, but it was still pretty lousy. The February 2006 blizzard was great but it melted very quickly and we had virtually no snow after it that winter, and from after that storm (February 12, 2006) until the February 22, 2008 snow event which gave me 6.5'' (a period of two years), I didn't see a single snow event greater than 2.5 inches.

[CAT5ANDREW]

The mid 80s through early 90s was a longer stretch of futility for that region. Late 90s might have peaked worse than the 80/early 90s stretch but at least it was only 4 years.

1983-84 to 1987-88 was not tha bad actually.There were some memorable cold stretches and some decent snowfalls,just not double digit.1988-89 to 1991-92 was nt that good.1988-89 was below 10 inches,1989-90 was bad.1990-91 was a top 10 warmest but with deent snowfall and 1991-92 had little snow before March.

1996-97 to 2001-02 was just horrible for cold and snow here.In my lifetime,only 6 winters IMBY had less than 10 inches,4 of them in that span including 3 consecutive winters.1999-2000 was only 12 inches for me.

When you consider the combination of least snow/warmest departures from normal,this period is the worst.Worse than the 1950s and the 1930s.

[TheTrials]

The mid 80s through early 90s was a longer stretch of futility for that region. Late 90s might have peaked worse than the 80/early 90s stretch but at least it was only 4 years.

Exactly. The late 90's came after 93-94 and 95-96, two of the best winters on record. The 80's was just non-stop pain.

[uncle W]

Snow droughts...

the lowest four year snowfall average...

1928-29 to 1931-32...11.1"

1996-97 to 1999-00...11.4"

1972-73 to 1975-76...14.2"

1988-89 to 1991-92...14.8"

1949-50 to 1952-53...15.1"

the lowest five year average...

1927-28 to 1931-32...11.8"

1997-98 to 2001-02...14.6"

1950-51 to 1954-55...14.7"

1970-71 to 1974-75...15.6"

1987-88 to 1991-92...15.6"

the lowest six year average...

1926-27 to 1931-32...13.5"

1996-97 to 2001-02...13.8"

1949-50 to 1954-55...14.6"

1970-71 to 1975-76...15.9"

1986-87 to 1991-92...16.9"

[CAT5ANDREW]

avg winter temp for NYC41.5 2001-02-Warmest on record39.6 1997-98-3rd warmest38.7 1998-99-5th warmest37.8 1996-97 tied with 1932-33 for 10th warmestsnowfall for nyc3.5 2001-02 2nd least snowiest5.5 1997-98 5th least snowiest (5 inches fell on the first day of spring 3/22/98)10.0 1996-97 7th least snowiest

[TheTrials]

Snow droughts...

the lowest four year snowfall average...

1928-29 to 1931-32...11.1"

1996-97 to 1999-00...11.4"

1972-73 to 1975-76...14.2"

1988-89 to 1991-92...14.8"

1949-50 to 1952-53...15.1"

the lowest five year average...

1927-28 to 1931-32...11.8"

1997-98 to 2001-02...14.6"

1950-51 to 1954-55...14.7"

1970-71 to 1974-75...15.6"

1987-88 to 1991-92...15.6"

the lowest six year average...

1926-27 to 1931-32...13.5"

1996-97 to 2001-02...13.8"

1949-50 to 1954-55...14.6"

1970-71 to 1975-76...15.9"

1986-87 to 1991-92...16.9"

DAMN YOU AND YOUR STATISTICAL EVIDENCE! LOL

[uncle W]

DAMN YOU AND YOUR STATISTICAL EVIDENCE! LOL

more numbers...

the winters with the smallest seasonal max snowfall...No snowfall over 4" three straight years from 1929-30 to 1931-32...

1918-19...1.4"...

1972-73...1.8"...

1931-32...2.0"...

1950-51...3.0"...

1941-42...3.2"...

1996-97...3.5"...

2001-02...3.5"...

1949-50...3.8"...

1929-30...3.9"...

1930-31...3.9"

[Mitchel Volk]

The early to middle 70's was a horror. There were constant forecasts for heavy snow only to see time and time again that the snow quickly changed to rain. On winter in the early 70's I lived in Oceanside Long Island and the only accumulation happen during an April night for about an 1" before it changed to rain. After that I went to LSC in 1975 and finally saw a real winters in the Northeast Kingdom of Vt.

[CAT5ANDREW]

There were more snow to rain events during the 1970s than in any decade since.The ground would be bare here in Queens and once you got North of the Tappan Zee brdge when going to get a christmas tree there would be loads of snow on the ground.

[Sundog]

There were more snow to rain events during the 1970s than in any decade since.The ground would be bare here in Queens and once you got North of the Tappan Zee brdge when going to get a christmas tree there would be loads of snow on the ground.

There's nothing more depressing than knowing the ground is snow covered and/or it's snowing just 20 miles north of you.

[SnowGoose69]

Agree. We had snow days off from school and at least one 4" storm from 85-89. 97-98 and 01-02 basically didn't even get 5" total, 98-99 had maybe 2 decent storms, 99-00 had a couple small ones and the January fairly big one.

Its a toss up as to what was worse, the 90s period did not go 8 years without an 8 inch eventfor NYC but I still say 96-00 was worse for NYC than 84-90 or 86-90 or any 4 year grouping in that stretch. As Andrew said, the coldness of the 84-90 period might make it lose the race to the 96-00 period as the worst. For areas more inland the late 80s ERA was probably worse . Another interesting note is that NYC never had a Winter Storm Watch posted for the 5 boroughs the entire 96-97, 97-98, and 98-99 winters at any point. The only warning I think happened during the January 1999 ice storm which mainly affected north Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx while it rained in southern Queens, Bklyn, and most of LI outside the Nassau north shore. The last watch came in March 1996 with the next one actually not occurring until February 15 2000...there never was a Winter Storm Watch for the January 2000 event as it went straight to a warning. Also Central Park did not see a 6 inch event from March 1996 til the December 2000 storm (January 2000 had 5.8 I think)

[CAT5ANDREW]

Its a toss up as to what was worse, the 90s period did not go 8 years without an 8 inch eventfor NYC but I still say 96-00 was worse for NYC than 84-90 or 86-90 or any 4 year grouping in that stretch.  As Andrew said, the coldness of the 84-90 period might make it lose the race to the 96-00 period as the worst.  For areas more inland the late 80s ERA was probably worse .  Another interesting note is that NYC never had a Winter Storm Watch posted for the 5 boroughs the entire 96-97, 97-98, and 98-99 winters at any point.  The only warning I think happened during the January 1999 ice storm which mainly affected north Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx while it rained in southern Queens, Bklyn, and most  of LI outside the Nassau north shore.  The last watch came in March 1996 with the next one actually not occurring until February 15 2000...there never was a Winter Storm Watch for the January 2000 event as it went straight to a warning.  Also Central Park did not see a 6 inch event from March 1996 til the December 2000 storm (January 2000 had 5.8 I think)

the winters of 83-84 84-85 85-86 86-87 87-88 and 89-90 all had at least one period of decent cold weather and or snowfall.1990-91 didnt have the cold but had the snow,1991-92 had the cold from mid Jan mid feb but didnt have the snow until march.at least those winters had one or the other or in many cases both.WHile it was not snowy by any stretch,there were some decent snowfalls.

1996-97 1997-98 and 1998-99 and DEC 1999 to mid Jan 2000 was just awful.Look at the number of days where the max temp was 32 or below.Dec 1998 had 2 days in the mid 70s before a colder last 8 days of the month.

To have 4 TOP 10 warmest winters in 6 years is something hopefully we wont see in my lifetime again.

[weathafella]

The early to middle 70's was a horror. There were constant forecasts for heavy snow only to see time and time again that the snow quickly changed to rain. On winter in the early 70's I lived in Oceanside Long Island and the only accumulation happen during an April night for about an 1" before it changed to rain. After that I went to LSC in 1975 and finally saw a real winters in the Northeast Kingdom of Vt.

Exactly. I moved to LA in mid November 1976. Winters promptly became epic. I returned for the 1991-92 winter but I was soon rewarded with a nice stretch from 1992-93 through 1995-96 and of course some of our fine winters over the past 9 years.