Winter predictions??? (health, year, good)

[JetMech72]

High Temp: -17°F
Low Temp: -29°F
Average Temp: -26.2°F
Dewpoint: -34.5F
Wind Speed: 10.5 Knots
Precipitation Amount: 0.01 Inches
Snow Depth: 7.9 Inches
Observations: Snow/Ice Pellets

Those were the conditions in Helena on February 2, 1989. Also on that day, there was a massive explosion as two sets of rail cars slammed into one another (ammonium nitrates). The explosion knocked out power for two days. I know from experiance that some of those who relied on electrical heat, resorted to burning furniture to stay warm. Lets hope that we don't see that again.

Of course we got close to the same conditions in Havre on January 29th of this year:

High Temp: -0.9F
Low Temp: -29.9F
Average Temp: -19.9F
Dewpoint: -27.6F
Wind Speed: 6.5 Knots
Precipitation Amount: 0.01 Inches
Snow Depth: n/a
Observations: Snow/Ice Pellets

And we have a lot of trains here at the BNSF Repair facility.

[Reziac]

Been getting our first chilly nights (well, here in the desert we think 75 is chilly but 110 today. Must be Fair Week, always hot!

But our heat has already broken for the year, it won't be what we think of as "serious" again. OTOH it's been humid here for the first time I've ever seen in 24 years, which makes me think we'll get a lot of stagnant weather systems later on. Here that means clear and cold once winter sets in.

Of course everyone knows the best way to get a hard winter is to not lay in enough firewood, and v.v.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by JetMech72

Are you talking about Going To The Sun Road? Weren't they going to close it early this year to perform some upgrades? I guess now that it has snow up there already, it's going to suck for the workers.

Yep, Sun road! It's still open and the buses are running at least until Monday which is the last day of shuttle service.

[JetMech72]

Originally Posted by jarsmom

Grannymontanny,
my grandma lives in the woods above the lake too.
I know we all remember the winter of 96, does any remember the blizzard we had between Christmas and New YEars. It was a doozy, about 90 or 91

On December 31st, 1990, the closest available weather station to Polson, MT (KALISPELL GLACIER PK INT'L AR, MT), reported the following conditions:
High Temp: 30.9°F
Low Temp: -14.1°F
Average Temp: 7.8°F
Dewpoint: 4F
Wind: 2 Knots
Precipitation Amount: 0.37 Inches
Snow Depth: 31.9 Inches
Observations: Snow/Ice Pellets

About the same as in '96, but this event was a bit chillier.

So, if we are in for a colder winter, do you think we will see higher snow levels as well? We did have a high snow-pack last year in the Rocky Mountains (not so much out here on the plains). And we saw -30 degrees across the Hi-Line. If this winter is supposed to be worse.....I'm going to follow the birds on their journey south.

[JetMech72]

"Icy Temperatures and Decent Snowfall"

Decent snowfall? Not below average, not above average....but decent.

[Kristynwy]

I heard on the radio the other evening when they did a national news break, that the winter is expected to be cold and lots of snow according to the farmer's almanac! I am going to go out and buy one today haha

Thanks for the link to the farmer's almanac website! I will definitely go and check it out

[Timberwolf232]

Originally Posted by Kristynwy

I heard on the radio the other evening when they did a national news break, that the winter is expected to be cold and lots of snow according to the farmer's almanac! I am going to go out and buy one today haha

Thanks for the link to the farmer's almanac website! I will definitely go and check it out

I LOVE snow! My snowmachine throttle thumb is getting itchy! We are way past due for a good old fashioned Montana winter! (although last year was an improvement)

[JetMech72]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

I LOVE snow! My snowmachine throttle thumb is getting itchy! We are way past due for a good old fashioned Montana winter!

We had an old fashioned winter last winter. If we get good ol' Montana winters back-to-back, maybe people will start rethinking this Global Warming stuff.

[Timberwolf232]

Originally Posted by JetMech72

We had an old fashioned winter last winter. If we get good ol' Montana winters back-to-back, maybe people will start rethinking this Global Warming stuff.

I haven't seen snow like there was down in West Yellowstone last winter in at least a good 10-12 years. Didn't seem to get as cold last winter as it used too.. -10 or so for about a week I think is the worst we got in Gallatin County.. (not that I'm complaining... still have 2 fingertips with no feeling from some frostbite years ago.)

Heh heh, we had a running joke at the shop last year about who had to go shovel the global warming off the sidewalks and parking lot. I still remember winter being a bit more "wintery", but the older I get the more the years fade together.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by JetMech72

"Icy Temperatures and Decent Snowfall"

Decent snowfall? Not below average, not above average....but decent.

I'd like to know what an "indecent" snowfall is? Bare ground?