MJO812 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 B+ What was missing was a 12+ storm for NYC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsentropicLift Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 B+ Positives: Solid snowcover from late January through mid-March Numerous threats Some decent ice events Above average snowfall Negatives: The Winter of being nickeled and dimed to death. The Winter without a double digit snowfall The blizzard that could have made this one of the best all time missing well to the East. Only two warning criteria snowfalls all season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forkyfork Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle W Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 to grade a winter you have to compare it with past 30 winters...I graded them by the point system...six categories, three for snowfall and three for cold...total snowfall...biggest snowfall...total days with one inch on the ground...Dec-Mar ave temp...coldest 30 day period...max days 32 or lower... the top winters and points... 1993-94...168 1995-96...161 2002-03...159 2010-11...154 2013-14...153 2003-04...153 2014-15...151 2009-10...135 2000-01...124 the worst were 2001-02...11 1997-98...16 2011-12...17 1996-97...38 2007-08...43 1998-99...51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cfa Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 D Negatives: • Backloaded. • February from hell (Michigan). • Coldest weather in my life. • Sustained snowpack. • Ice. Positives: • December was comfortably mild. • Sunny 60's on/around Xmas. • It's over. I really wanted to give it an F, as February is still burned into the back of my mind, but December was incredible. This winter could've earned a higher grade if it started out like Feb and ended like Dec. I loathe winter in general, but backloaded winters are the absolute worst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliancolton Posted March 31, 2015 Author Share Posted March 31, 2015 Good stuff Uncle W. Hard to beat objectivity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snywx Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 B+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forkyfork Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthShoreWx Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Good stuff Uncle W. Hard to beat objectivity. The difficulty with that sort of objective rating is it is still subjective under the covers. A little tweak of the weightings could turn the list upside down. This list applies specifically to Uncle W's location. It may be a very good assessment for that location, but if there are weightings applied to the parameters evaluated (or even if all weighted equally), it is easy to change the results with subtle shifts in the weighting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ict1523 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 If anyone around NYC that loves cold and snow gave this winter anything other than an A, they will never be happy. It is simply impossible to have an entire winter be like February. We're not in Quebec. To have a winter that featured this much snow, regardless of how it fell, so much continuous snowcover, and one of the coldest months in NYC history and not be completely satisfied is unreasonable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yanksfan Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 I would give this winter a B-. My area was above normal in snowfall; I received 41.5 inches. What stings me though was the lack of a large widespread storm. Lot's of nickel and dime events. The January blizzard was a bust in my area. I was expecting 2-3 feet and only received 5 inches. Overall the cold was impressive. Too bad the expected -AO and -NAO never came to pass. It would have been an epic winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsteff Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYCSNOWMAN2020 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 If anyone around NYC that loves cold and snow gave this winter anything other than an A, they will never be happy. It is simply impossible to have an entire winter be like February. We're not in Quebec. To have a winter that featured this much snow, regardless of how it fell, so much continuous snowcover, and one of the coldest months in NYC history and not be completely satisfied is unreasonable.agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPcantmeasuresnow Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 If anyone around NYC that loves cold and snow gave this winter anything other than an A, they will never be happy. It is simply impossible to have an entire winter be like February. We're not in Quebec. To have a winter that featured this much snow, regardless of how it fell, so much continuous snowcover, and one of the coldest months in NYC history and not be completely satisfied is unreasonable. I'll nitpick. I'd give the NYC winter an A- only beacuse it's the 18th snowiest winter in history and not a top 10, and because December was crap and the first 3 weeks in January the same. The 50 stratight days of snowcover lifts it from a B+ to an A-. I'm a hard marker, I believe half the guys in the baseball hall of fame don't belong there, so I apply the same stringent criteria to my winters. In the HV where I live I give it a B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RU848789 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 These are the positives for an A or even A+ Two measurable snowfalls in November 9 storms with 3" or more of snowfall, which is my cutoff for a "decent" snowfall (3" is advisory level) 19 occasions with measurable snowfall (1/4" or more) Coldest monthly departure from normal, ever, in Feb in NYC (I'm 25 miles SW of NYC, so I'll go by their records) Two sub zero readings and a bunch of single digit readings The lowest bulk density snow I've ever seen, on 2/14 - looked like cotton candy Several overperforming storms, especially in Feb/March Snowcover (1" or more on more than 50% of my property) from 1/23 through March 19th (we have a shady property) 51" of total snowfall, which would be in the top 15 over 145 years of records for NYC (that's A/A- level) Amazing ice on lakes, rivers and even saltwater areas These are the relatively minor reasons why I brought the overall rating down to an A- A forgettable December (which was also warm) and most of January with <3" cumulative snowfall The huge miss on the "blizzard" - I never bought the 24-36" forecasts, but I was telling people on my email lists that we'd likely get 12-24" in most of Central Jersey and we got 4-8" in most of the area (7" at my house) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravitylover Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 A- because of lackluster December and early January. A blockbuster storm probably would have brought it back to an A and it's the Thanksgiving storm that keeps it from a B/+. Good duration snowpack with some pretty significant cold and some dynamic storms that put us above average for snowfall will make it memorable winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliancolton Posted March 31, 2015 Author Share Posted March 31, 2015 The difficulty with that sort of objective rating is it is still subjective under the covers. A little tweak of the weightings could turn the list upside down. This list applies specifically to Uncle W's location. It may be a very good assessment for that location, but if there are weightings applied to the parameters evaluated (or even if all weighted equally), it is easy to change the results with subtle shifts in the weighting. Hm, good points. To be fair, though, I think these ratings are inherently imby-centric, so any attempt to standardize the criteria makes for a valuable contribution. It's not something I'm terribly concerned about, but I thought Uncle W's post was an interesting change of pace from the (even more?) arbitrary grades that most of us have been throwing around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthShoreWx Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Hm, good points. To be fair, though, I think these ratings are inherently imby-centric, so any attempt to standardize the criteria makes for a valuable contribution. It's not something I'm terribly concerned about, but I thought Uncle W's post was an interesting change of pace from the (even more?) arbitrary grades that most of us have been throwing around. I did feel a little funny about using his post to make a point. I trust Uncle's judgment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowshack Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 A- The 12/15-12/31 period always weighs heavily on my opinion of the overall winter. This one did all it could do to offset the unsatisfying holiday weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle W Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 I did feel a little funny about using his post to make a point. I trust Uncle's judgment. you can use any criteria you want for your area...only having a 9.8" largest storm hurt this seasons ratings...1995-96 was my favorite and 1993-94 a close second...2010-11 is a close third...If you consider snow for Christmas there are not many great winters with a white Christmas...2002-03 had snow on Christmas and it was a great winter...1966-67 had the biggest Christmas storm in my lifetime...a mediocre winter like 1961-62 is better than a mediocre winter like 1987-88 because of a snowstorm Christmas eve...I like winters with snow for Christmas...A major storm in January or February with above average snowfall both months...March chimes in with more snow before it gets warm...1963-64 was like that...I'd take that outcome every year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason215 Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 I'm giving this winter an A. Pros: 1) The January Blizzard 2) Historically cold February spilling into March with numerous "snow on snow" events leading to a 50 day continuous snowpack. (Much of those days featured over a 10" depth) iced over NYC & LI harbors and waterways.. A very rare event. 3) at least 200% of annual snowfall despite the very late start. Cons: lackluster Dec, grinch storm, had to be patient and wait out most of January to get the snow. I can overlook December because of all the positives and the amazing comeback we made. The historically cold Feb is more rare than a blizzard. (We get a blizzard now almost every year, lol) -Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green tube Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 A any winter IMBY with 40"+ is an A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pamela Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 A- The 12/15-12/31 period always weighs heavily on my opinion of the overall winter. This one did all it could do to offset the unsatisfying holiday weather. December might have been unsatisfactory; but the next 3 months made up for it 100 times over...very close to impossible to have a wire to wire winter from Marquette at 41 N at the coast and near sea level. I gave it an A without a moment of hesitation...when you have record cold, extended periods with very deep snow cover, and 70 + inches of snow...no other grade can be given. The winter we had here was really not too different from a typical winter in a place like Pittsfield, Massachusetts....100 miles to our north and 1000 feet higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowshack Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 December might have been unsatisfactory; but the next 3 months made up for it 100 times over...very close to impossible to have a wire to wire winter from Marquette at 41 N at the coast and near sea level. I gave it an A without a moment of hesitation...when you have record cold, extended periods with very deep snow cover, and 70 + inches of snow...no other grade can be given. The winter we had here was really not too different from a typical winter in a place like Pittsfield, Massachusetts....100 miles to our north and 1000 feet higher. Agree completely with your points. The end result certainly merits an A. This was an very enjoyable winter that I'd take again any year. The title of the thread allows for some subjectivity. I gave it an A- because the futility of late December really extended into mid/late January. Although we had the cold there were posts on here talking about an under 10" season, and I think you even reaffirmed your own 20" prediction/guess for NYC at some point in January. Thirty days into winter many of us were wondering if this was going to be one of those seasons in which we pay for the recent above average totals. So I'm just factoring that somewhat frustrating time into the overall grade. Nitpicking, in other words Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongBeachSurfFreak Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 December might have been unsatisfactory; but the next 3 months made up for it 100 times over...very close to impossible to have a wire to wire winter from Marquette at 41 N at the coast and near sea level. I gave it an A without a moment of hesitation...when you have record cold, extended periods with very deep snow cover, and 70 + inches of snow...no other grade can be given. The winter we had here was really not too different from a typical winter in a place like Pittsfield, Massachusetts....100 miles to our north and 1000 feet higher. You ended with 20 more inches of snow then I did. Granted you average about 5" more in any given season I still think you had a better wintet out there. I thought I was in the lock for over 2 feet area during the blizzard being in eastern Nassau and instead got a measly 15". You had an A for sure but it was a B + by me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isotherm Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Almost every winter, even most of our great ones, contain a period (sometimes several weeks in length) in which the pattern is quite hostile for snowfall. 2010-11 essentially ended on the Jan 27th storm for me. I only recorded a few inches thereafter. So one could argue that Feb/Mar went down the toilet that year, even though we had a HECS, near record snow cover, and 55"+ regionwide. 2009-10 had essentially no snow in January - same deal with 2002-03. 2003-04 had virtually nothing in February. 2004-05 was snowless prior to January 22nd and I finished with 47". I could go on and on. The only true "wire to wire" winters are probably years like 1995-96, 1960-61, 1947-48, etc, but even they had their warm periods of at least 2-3 weeks. 1977-78, a 60" benchmark, historic winter here, didn't really begin until the third week of January. To say, "Well, we had nothing until late January" isn't a valid excuse to downgrade the winter in my view. Grades should be determined in reference to normality for our climate, and that normality is such that persistent cold/snow from Thanksgiving to Easter is an idealistic lucid dream, not reality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthShoreWx Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 1977-78, a 60" benchmark, historic winter here, didn't really begin until the third week of January. Not really, sustained cold started right around Christmas and the first significant (albeit light) snowfall was on New Years Day night. January was stormy and progressively colder (except for the day of the OV blizzard). A cutter early in the month ended with a flash freeze and some accumulating snow, and the major ice storm on 1/13 started as 3 - 4" of snow. In NE Nassau Cty, we had an inch of snow in November and about the same in December. Prior to the 1/19-20 near blizzard, seasonal snowfall was a little over 11". Not spectacular stats, but it was cold and stormy and if you had been around you would not think winter didn't begin until the third week of January. Syosset ended up with 71.2" in 77 - 78. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowshack Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Almost every winter, even most of our great ones, contain a period (sometimes several weeks in length) in which the pattern is quite hostile for snowfall. 2010-11 essentially ended on the Jan 27th storm for me. I only recorded a few inches thereafter. So one could argue that Feb/Mar went down the toilet that year, even though we had a HECS, near record snow cover, and 55"+ regionwide. 2009-10 had essentially no snow in January - same deal with 2002-03. 2003-04 had virtually nothing in February. 2004-05 was snowless prior to January 22nd and I finished with 47". I could go on and on. The only true "wire to wire" winters are probably years like 1995-96, 1960-61, 1947-48, etc, but even they had their warm periods of at least 2-3 weeks. 1977-78, a 60" benchmark, historic winter here, didn't really begin until the third week of January. To say, "Well, we had nothing until late January" isn't a valid excuse to downgrade the winter in my view. Grades should be determined in reference to normality for our climate, and that normality is such that persistent cold/snow from Thanksgiving to Easter is an idealistic lucid dream, not reality. Well the OP invited "speculation on how the winter will be remembered". So that opens the door to subjectivity. Perhaps you are right that we should look back and grade the winter only giving weight to historic rank of certain criteria, but I don't think there's anything wrong with weighting the grade based on ones perception of the season. Perception is reality.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pamela Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 You ended with 20 more inches of snow then I did. Granted you average about 5" more in any given season I still think you had a better wintet out there. I thought I was in the lock for over 2 feet area during the blizzard being in eastern Nassau and instead got a measly 15". You had an A for sure but it was a B + by me Yes, the grade is based just on my location; no other place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle W Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 2014-15 in NYC compared with the top 15 since 1947...2014-15 had 50.3" of snowfall...biggest snowfall was 9.8"...the average winter temp was 31.7 degrees...had 57 days with one inch or more snow depth...19" max snow depth...it was a great winter despite no storm in the top 15... year.......snowfall.........biggest snow...............winter temp..............min temp..........day with 1" snow depth...max depth 1995-96...75.6"........26.9" in 2005-06..........28.5 in 1976-77.....-2 in 1960-61..........74 in 1993-94...........26" in 1947-48 1947-48...63.2"........26.4" in 1947-48..........30.0 in 1947-48.....-2 in 1962-63..........65 in 1947-48...........25" in 1960-61 2010-11...61.9"........20.9" in 2009-10..........30.0 in 1962-63.....-2 in 1976-77..........64 in 2013-14...........23" in 2010-11 2013-14...57.4"........20.2" in 1995-96..........30.3 in 1977-78.....-2 in 1984-85..........58 in 2010-11...........22" in 1993-94 1960-61...54.7"........20.0" in 2010-11..........30.5 in 1969-70.....-2 in 1993-94..........57 in 2014-15...........21" in 2009-10 1993-94...53.4"........19.8" in 2002-03..........30.9 in 1958-59.....-1 in 1967-68..........56 in 1977-78...........20" in 2002-03 1966-67...51.5"........19.0" in 2010-11..........31.2 in 1993-94.....-1 in 1975-76..........55 in 1995-96...........20" in 2005-06 2009-10...51.4"........17.7" in 1977-78..........31.2 in 2002-03.....-1 in 1980-81..........52 in 1960-61...........20" in 1995-96 1977-78...50.7"........17.6" in 1982-83..........31.3 in 1967-68......0 in 1947-48..........47 in 1969-70...........19" in 2014-15 2014-15...50.3"........17.4" in 1960-61..........31.7 in 2014-15......0 in 1954-55..........47 in 1976-77...........19" in 1982-83 2002-03...49.3"........16.0" in 1948-49..........31.7 in 1960-61......0 in 1956-57..........42 in 1963-64...........18" in 2013-14 1948-49...46.6"........15.3" in 1968-69..........32.1 in 1970-71......0 in 1978-79..........42 in 2002-03...........18" in 1977-78 1957-58...44.7"........15.2" in 1960-61..........32.3 in 1995-96......0 in 1981-82..........41 in 2004-05...........16" in 1978-79 1963-64...44.7"........14.7" in 1969-60..........32.4 in 2003-04......1 in 2003-04..........38 in 1973-74...........15" in 1968-69 2003-04...42.6"........14.0" in 2003-04..........32.6 in 1981-82......2 in 2014-15..........36 in 2003-04...........15" in 1959-60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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