1981-2010 Season Snowfall Normals

[Chicago WX]

A new set of 30 year normals is upon us. Out with 1971-00, in with 1981-2010. I'm not sure exactly when the new official normals will be released, but I thought it'd be fun to see everyone post their new season snowfall averages for the 1981-2010 set. I also realize that NCDC has their way of smoothing the numbers, so these may not be the exact figures, but t should be pretty close.

Chicago - ORD

81-10...71-00 (change)

January: 11.7"...11.3" (+0.4")

February: 8.4"...8.3" (+0.1")

March: 5.4"...6.0" (-0.6")

April: 1.1"...1.6" (-0.5")

October: 0.3"...0.3" (0.0")

November: 1.4"...1.8" (-0.4")

December: 8.5"...8.7" (-0.2")

Total: 36.8"...38.0" (-1.2")

So it looks like Chicago lost 1.2" of snow with the new normals. Gains were made with January and February, bit all other months lost some. The December average really made ground with the past 4 Decembers, it could have been much lower due to the pathetic late 80's and 90's.

Random numbers from the 1981-2010 data set:

Highest yearly snowfall total: 64.9" in 2008

Lowest yearly snowfall total: 9.8" in 2001

Highest single month snowfall total (DJF): 30.9" in December 2000

Lowest single month snowfall total (DJF): T in February 1987 and 1998

[snowstormcanuck]

Toronto (Downtown)

Oct......T (-0.1")

Nov....3.1" (-0.1")

Dec....10.3" (-2.4")

Jan.....14.0" (-1.0")

Feb.....11.2" (+0.7")

Mar.....7.6" (-1.1")

Apr......1.8" (-0.6")

----------------------------

1981-2010 avg = 48.0" (-4.4")

Snowiest calendar year = 2008 (83.0")

Least snowiest calendar year = 2006 (12.1")

Snoweist month (DJF) = Jan 1999 (46.6")

Least snoweist month (DJF) = Dec 2006/Feb 1998 (0.3")

Certainly hurt losing the "snowy 70s".

[michsnowfreak]

Based on my calculations for Detroit the new set of normals will lose a negligible 0.3" off of seasonal average. this is due largely to a relatively big drop in November, as gains were made in Jan/Feb. So the new "normals" make the onset of winter a little more tame and the dead of winter a little more harsh. As you said though, NCDC does tend to smooth things over, so I merely exchanged the 1971-80 with 2001-10 data set for a third of the avg.

Detroit- DTW

81-10...71-00 (change)

October: 0.2"...0.3" (-0.1")

November: 1.4"...2.7" (-1.3")

December: 10.3"...11.1" (-0.8")

January: 12.5"...11.9" (+0.6")

February: 10.8"...9.3" (+1.5")

March: 6.7"...7.0" (-0.3")

April: 1.8"...1.7" (+0.1")

May: T......T (0.0")

Total: 43.7"...44.0" (-0.3")

Random numbers from the 1981-2010 data set:

Highest yearly snowfall total: 82.6" in 2008

Lowest yearly snowfall total: 13.9" in 1998

Highest single month snowfall total (DJF): 27.3" in January 1999

Lowest single month snowfall total (DJF): T in February 1998

[Trent]

I'm not sure exactly how they calculate the new normals, but CLE will actually GAIN about 5" to a new average of 68.3" or thereabouts. That's a pretty significant jump.

[OHSnow]

I'm not sure exactly how they calculate the new normals, but CLE will actually GAIN about 5" to a new average of 68.3" or thereabouts. That's a pretty significant jump.

How much will YNG and MFD gain?

[cincywxpro]

Here are the unofficial snowfall averages for Cincinnati:

October: 0.4" (No change)

November: 0.4" (-0.9")

December: 4.7" (+1.0")

January: 6.5" (-1.3")

February: 6.5" (+0.5")

March: 3.0" (-0.8")

April: 0.5" (-0.1")

-------------------------------

Total : 22.0" (-1.6")