DON'T GIVE UP ON WINTER JUST YET
Written by: Brian Neudorff
I read through all the comments generated by Bob's post over the weekend. Wow, many of you are ready to throw in the towel when it comes to the winter of 2009-2010. I understand your frustration, completely and I think I can speak for the rest of us in the News 8 weather office that we would like to see more snow too.
Over the past 2 winters I've lived here it definitely feels like Rochester misses some of the big storms. It either passes to to our west giving us rain or a rain, snow, icy mix instead of true snow, or like it did my first winter of 2007-2008 these storms would jump over us and form a new storm off the coast giving us little snow or a lot of ice.
We do get snow, one commenter said "Let the snow drought continue." that may be true so far this season but if you look at the numbers from the last 10 years. Only 2001-02 and 2005-06 where below the normal annual snowfall for Rochester.
Keep your spirits up, I know looking at 1.6" so far this season makes December look like a bust, but we are only in the 7th day of the month. Meteorological winter just started as of December 1st and we are still 2 weeks away from astronomical winter. I have seen several winters that started off with tons of snow in November and December only to be sparse with snow in January and February.
I am approaching this season as if I was cheering on my favorite football team. If in the first quarter my team was losing by a touchdown or two it would make me nervous but I wouldn't stop watching and say, "Oh their losing so looks like the game is over" and then stop watching. There is plenty of winter left, we are just beginning and I see no reason, at this point, to shy away from the "Above Average" snowfall we are predicting this season.
I really needed to hear what you said, Brian, thanks. Gives me hope. I would love Rochester to be in the "sweet spot" in a snowstorm for once. When was the last time that happened? March 1999?
ReplyDeleteFor Wed's storm, any chance of a secondary low developing on the east coast to keep more cold air in WNY? Also, LES is forecasted after the storm, but how much given the W wind direction and strong winds at that? Will Lake Erie give us some snow, like it did last week?
I am hearing that we are in for some cold times up to Christmas, which is nice, but what about snow? If the NAO goes too negative, storms will miss us and be suppressed. Then, once the moderation happens, will the lows again be to our west? It's so frustrating!
Here's hoping for a cold and snowy winter in Rochester!
I believe in second chances, so I'll give winter a second chance to prove itself around here. Spreaking of winter showing itself, I see that the NWS Hazardous weather outlook is now using the term "blizzard conditions," to describe the wake of the mid-week storm. Is it safe to assume that those conditions apply to the west of here, and NOT Rochester? What are the chances of the forecasted Lake Erie band to make it to Rochester considering there will be 30-50 MPH winds? (that's assuming the the band isn't "shredded" by the strong winds as it goes up the fetch of lake erie).
ReplyDeleteTo the first poster...I know what you mean. A good, pure snowstorm seems hard to come by. I don't know if it has always been this way, and we just notice it more, or what. I sometimes think that if not for the lake effect that we get in WNY, this area would not be a very snowy place at all in the winter.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned I would be happy if we didn't get one more inch of snow this winter!!! I love this cold and snow free weather! Nothing worse than having to drive around Rochester in a snow storm with people that act like they just got their license! Here's to hoping for a snow-free winter!
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