January 2025 General Discussion

[Chicago Storm]

2 minutes ago, nvck said:

If I'm understanding what this tool does correctly, this basically means that the air mass over cincinnati the morning of the 21st is coming from northern canada/the arctic, right?

That is correct.

[Chicago Storm]

2 minutes ago, michsnowfreak said:

Any idea why they do this at ORD? We still have T depth at DTW/FNT.

They are not supposed to report a T in OBS based on FAA standards. It is either 0" or 1" SD, with no in-between.

The only thing I can think of is that DTX is requesting it as supplemental information. @Stebo may be able to chime in on that one.

Here at ORD we do not have any sort of agreement like that, however.

[michsnowfreak]

11 minutes ago, Chicago Storm said:

They are not supposed to report a T in OBS based on FAA standards. It is either 0" or 1" SD, with no in-between.

The only thing I can think of is that DTX is requesting it as supplemental information. @Stebo may be able to chime in on that one.

Here at ORD we do not have any sort of agreement like that, however.

Wow I never knew that! DTX first order sites are snow-paids, and I know I've seen most other midwest sites do T in their depth columns too (i look at a lot of F6s). But this makes sense why LOT doesn't. The FAA is so annoying. I love doing it the old school way. Detroit climate has always done T. I know 1948 is when they changed snow depth to whole numbers instead of tenths of inches.

[Stebo]

19 minutes ago, Chicago Storm said:

They are not supposed to report a T in OBS based on FAA standards. It is either 0" or 1" SD, with no in-between.

The only thing I can think of is that DTX is requesting it as supplemental information. @Stebo may be able to chime in on that one.

Here at ORD we do not have any sort of agreement like that, however.

The observers here don't measure snow at DTW, so I am in the dark on this one. We haven't measured since 2010.

[nvck]

30 minutes ago, Chicago Storm said:

That is correct.

Appreciate it! Was gonna share this graphic but wanted to make sure I understood it completely first

[Chicago Storm]

8 minutes ago, Stebo said:

The observers here don't measure snow at DTW, so I am in the dark on this one. We haven't measured since 2010.

The mystery continues...

[RCNYILWX]

For this section note that a T of snow depth is no longer recorded, and hasn't been for a very long time. Anything So, those stats can be misleading.

Felt like it was good context to have vs. the 1996 event, plus the T snow depth in those older dates may have been close to an inch based on the daily data.

[Snowstorms]

Been snowing since the morning, lightly to at times heavy, and picked up a good 1.7" today. Puts me at 19.3" for the season. 

 

[Chicago Storm]

3 hours ago, michsnowfreak said:

 ORD may hang onto their 1" depth tho?

Snow depth is now down to 0" at here at ORD.

[RCNYILWX]

I remember the 1996 cold snap with completely bare ground too. Not as cold as Chicago, but still 3 straight days with lows below zero. Ahh the winter of 1995-96 from, Chicago to Detroit.  ORD may hang onto their 1" depth tho?

ORD lost its snow depth for the 00z ob. Either way, wasn't going to last through tomorrow.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro using Tapatalk

[michsnowfreak]

25 minutes ago, Chicago Storm said:

Snow depth is now down to 0" at here at ORD.

Oh wow. Depth is 4" at DTW. 

Talking of snow measurement, this link has a bunch of neat information. If you click the link for "snow paid locations", it will show all first order stations and whether snow is measured by the NWS forecast office, FAA contract, or snow paid observer at a nearby site. 

 

https://www.weather.gov/coop/standards

[DocATL]

Snow depth is now down to 0" at here at ORD.

Tons of melting today. Upper 30’s did feel phenomenal though.


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[mississaugasnow]

2 hours ago, Snowstorms said:

Been snowing since the morning, lightly to at times heavy, and picked up a good 1.7" today. Puts me at 19.3" for the season. 

 

Wow Im only slightly above 8" and YYZ is near 16" after today. You're cleaning up this year haha. 

Hamilton and Toronto typically average the same amount but the last few years have been a big change. 

[Chicago Storm]

4 hours ago, michsnowfreak said:

Wow I never knew that! DTX first order sites are snow-paids, and I know I've seen most other midwest sites do T in their depth columns too (i look at a lot of F6s). But this makes sense why LOT doesn't. The FAA is so annoying. I love doing it the old school way. Detroit climate has always done T. I know 1948 is when they changed snow depth to whole numbers instead of tenths of inches.

I had no idea that DTX (Or any office) had a budget to pay for anyone to go out to a given site and measure snow for them. But, looking at the listing on that website, it appears common, surprisingly.

That now makes sense why DTW would report a T of snow depth, while we don't here at ORD.

[A-L-E-K]

looks like a few brutal days to kick off the week then hopefully that's the last of the below zero shit for me

[michsnowfreak]

The dreaded thaw before the cold today. Snowpack is 4" and has some good bulk to it. But hate seeing the sun and above freezing temps. Should definitely lose some. Then tonight rain develops and turns to wet snow then temps crash tmrw.

[Brian D]

Looking at Duluth arpt siting data HOMR, it looks like snow is reported from the NWS office which is about a mile WSW of the arpt. I do know they put up a request for I-Falls arpt this past summer for a snow measuring contractor. MSP arpt has had their Met crew taking measurements since 2020. Prior to that, it looks like they've had a contractor on/around the aprt. As for T snow depth, DLH does report that as seen in their F-6 form, as well as I-Falls, and MSP along with others in the area that take snow readings. (Not co-ops tho)

[Brian D]

The last pleasant day for a few days. Going to be a brutal shot, but at least it doesn't last for a whole week. 1-3 day shots are not too bad. Still tough tho. 

[Snowstorms]

14 hours ago, mississaugasnow said:

Wow Im only slightly above 8" and YYZ is near 16" after today. You're cleaning up this year haha. 

Hamilton and Toronto typically average the same amount but the last few years have been a big change. 

Got lucky with the georgian bay streamers a few times that gave us an extra couple inches haha. Otherwise its been the couple clippers that passed through the region. 

Need a classic Colorado or Texas low. Or just give me a repeat of Jan 22 which happened exactly 3 years ago today. What a storm that was. Widespread 16-20" with some spots receiving 24". 

[iBrian]

"...the data show that winter is approximately two weeks shorter per decade on average across all five lakes since the winter of 1995-1996."
 

https://research.noaa.gov/winter-is-becoming-shorter-in-the-waters-of-the-great-lakes/

[sbnwx85]

Overachieved to 41 degrees in South Bend.

[A-L-E-K]

47 at ORD 

[madwx]

50 at Madison - definite overperformer

[Chicago Storm]

9 minutes ago, A-L-E-K said:

47 at ORD 

Snow depth is a real 0" now.

[hawkeye_wx]

We way over-performed today, warmed to 53º.

[Frog Town]

Could this be any indication that the trough is coming in a bitter further west?

[DocATL]

Snow is gone, lawn is bare and ready for pre-emergent.


.

[OrdIowPitMsp]

Front has moved through. Down to 28 and falling fast after our high of 38 today. Backyard remains snow covered.

[Geoboy645]

4 hours ago, madwx said:

50 at Madison - definite overperformer

Bare ground, sun, and WAA is always a recipe for an overperformance. Going to make the next 5 days feel that much more brutal.

[cyclone77]

56 at MLI, 54 here today.  Bare/dry ground helped the warmup.

MLI now about 14" below normal for snowfall.