Grade your winter so far

[Hoosier]

As we approach the halfway point of meteorological winter, what grade would you give?

Me: It's teetering between A-/B+. I'll give it an A- right now. However, if we go through the entire winter without an arctic outbreak and especially a major snowstorm, it will be harder for me to give anything higher than B+

[A-L-E-K]

B-, lack of a true warning quality event and major torch/rainstorm killing snow pack are the big negatives, good cold and frequent snowy days are positives.

[beavis1729]

Same idea as Hoosier, but with slightly lower grades:

It's teetering between B/B-. I'll give it a B right now. However, if we go through the entire winter without an arctic outbreak and especially a major snowstorm, it will be harder for me to give anything higher than B-.

[mayjawintastawm]

Would have been a D due to record dryness, but one recent test (storm) was brilliant, raised it to a C. If the long range is correct, might have to remediate next year. How do you repeat a season?

[snowstormcanuck]

Tough to grade. There's been almost no synoptic snow here this winter so far, which has to count against it somewhat. That being said, the 3 moderate LES events I've endured (5.7", 4.5", 2.4") have been quite exciting. There's a lot more of a thrill when only a couple of miles separate several inches from nada. It's been plenty cold, save for the Dec 12 warmup, and the on centered around NYE. Total snowfall of 18.3" is probably a smidged above normal as well.

I'd say a B is fair. Good, not great.

[ValpoVike]

A-, so far here in NW Indiana. We've had some pretty decent LES events.

[buckeye]

C...

...average and quite forgettable to this point wrt snow and cold. Had we cashed in on at least one of those blocked clippers that screwed us to the west in December, I probably would have bumped to B.

[janetjanet998]

B+

a solid "B/B+" for winter

many nickel and dime events, maybe even a "quarter" event has pushed the snow total above average, over doubled now, but not a huge storm yet (ie 10-12+) inches, I was under a blizzard warning but it was a modern water down version with only 3-4 inches of snow.....

Bonus points for the Tornado warning on New years eve day..

so B+/A- range

[JoMo]

D, only saved by an F from like 1-1/2" of snow

[TruePatriot]

So far I would give an A for MSP. One of the top five snowiest on record so far. Might have to downgrade it as we go if no arctic intrusions occur or fancy ice storms (every winter needs variation).

[Wx 24/7]

I would give this winter a D+. It has been okay in terms of cold down this way, but we really have missed out on 99.9% of all moisture. When Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia have had more snow than you have, it really can't be considered successful.

[prinsburg_wx]

i would have to say an A...month of Dec was awesome with numerous winter storm warnings, clippers and a couple ground blizzards, had thundersleet with one storm...still waiting on the true bitter arctic air, thus not giving an A+

[cyclone77]

A- here. That's strictly due to a fantastic December. It's been very quiet here since xmas, so if trends continue that grade will slide down. Still a long way to go though.

[snowlover2]

I'd give it a C here. Had a couple of 3 inch events including today which is fine but still waiting on a warning criteria event.

[Guru Of Reason]

I would give this winter a B. A 6+ incher would have given this winter an A so far.

[BuckeyeSam]

C+

Lots of snow on the ground in December which was nice, but no decent storms and all in all, very forgettable. Now if we have the same Feb that we had last year it could easily get bumped up to an A.

[wishforsnow]

I would grade this winter so far a B- due to the slow start in December. We didn't get the snow we normally get even in a neutral winter. Then we had that warm up after Xmas. Also, so far the major system snows either went west, south or east of us. Haven't had a good synoptic storm outside of March since the late 1990's.

[patrick7032]

For SE Michigan I would say a C-. We are close to our normal snowfall to date, but it has come in small chucks. We have had only one Watch/Warning. Normally by now we would have averaged 3 or 4 Watches, and sometimes we get in less than 10 days. Aside from the 6.3 inches on December 12th, we did not have any daily snowfall over an inch until this past week. Another unusual aspect of this winter.

[PSUBlizzicane2007]

B-/C+. I know it's Louisville, and this seems like it would be more snow/cold on average for this area...but I'm so used to more snow than this that it is a bit disappointing.

[vespasian70]

B- If we hadn't had the cold it would easily be a D. The lack of any event over 3inches this far into winter is frustrating. Even today underperformed.

[Moneyman]

Tough question. I did get one storm of 10 inches but besides that storm, I only had a couple 2-3 type events. I'll give it a B+ though because the storm I got 10 inches on, was pretty damn good.

[Chicago WX]

A-/B+. Great December in terms of cold and snow here...but nothing over 5" in one event and the New Year's grinch storm killed the snow cover.

[KokomoWX]

C+ for too many near misses.

[Stebo]

C+ would be my vote, I think with today's event might be on the cusp of B- and with the active pattern projected down the line this could go up quickly

[Iastfan112]

After this storm B+/A-, had one solid storm(5-6 inches), one great but without impressive accumulation rates(9.5), and then purely dusting-1 inch things. I'm perhaps a bit unrealistic due to how well last winter went..

[michsnowfreak]

For SE Michigan I would say a C-. We are close to our normal snowfall to date, but it has come in small chucks. We have had only one Watch/Warning. Normally by now we would have averaged 3 or 4 Watches, and sometimes we get in less than 10 days. Aside from the 6.3 inches on December 12th, we did not have any daily snowfall over an inch until this past week. Another unusual aspect of this winter.

Wow, tough grader lol! I give it a B+. Except for Jan 1-5, the ground has been white almost all winter since early December, which is a HUGE plus for me. Snowcover days above normal, snowfall (after today) near normal, maybe just a tad below. We had one awesome storm Dec 12th and nothing else really exciting as you pointed out, dribs and drabs until this week. If todays storm failed it probably would have been a B/B-, but this storm appears to be meeting or exceeding expectations, just as the Dec 12th storm did. (its just been a lack of excitement in between, but really none of our nowcast storms has undeperformed). Plus the extended looks sweet...stay tuned!

[bowtie`]

White. And it can stop at any time now. Don't like it. Don't want it. Waiting on Spring.

[baroclinic_instability]

I could be my usual self and complain at the relative boredom lately, but that is typical this time of year. There have been a few high potential busts lately that could have made things exciting, but overall, good for MSP to be back to normal (slightly above). Throw in Octobomb, and there have been two massive storms for the northern plains along with a few moderate events. A- is my grade.

[KeenerWx]

West Lafayette: A-...based on the fact that we've had moderate dumps every few weeks, coupled with the snowpack we were able to establish in December. If we had a really significant storm, it would be an A. Regardless, if we get into the Top 10 (only about 12" away), it will be an A winter. A+ if we get a big snowstorm.

DeMotte: B+..although we are doing worse in comparison to those further south, we have had a pretty decent winter (coupled with a significant synoptic/LES performance in early December). It is unlikely we'll get to a Top 10 winter, however, we will break above average. May be well above average if trends continue.

[TugHillMatt]

D/D- Reasons are pretty obvious...a few bouts of lake effect snow maintaining a pretty consistent snow cover are the only thing holding it from being an F.