which side gets more snow (Rolla, Washington: neighborhood, college, to live in)

[jayhawks]

Hi, my kids are all so excited about moving to a town where it snows. They've never seen it before! Now that they know we are moving to where there's snow, they've been "sledding" down the stairs on a swimming pool toy. That's as good as it gets for sledding here in flat Houston! Can you tell me if there's a side of town that gets more then the other? I noticed there is a difference in which part of the state you live in. Also we don't want to live in the city, we don't even want to live in a neighborhood. So, does anyone know of any rural areas where it snows the most?

[GraniteStater]

I do not think their is one side of the metro that gets more snow than the other. However, the past several years the areas south of the KC metro do seem to get more snow. However, with KC being fairly far south in latitude the average annual snow amounts are not very high. In a good winter expect around 20 inches of snow. However, the average snow amounts in any given location in the winter will vary a lot depending on exactly where the snow systems track.

[mjb62676]

It seems to hardly snow here any more....and I can't imagine there's a significant long term difference in snowfall amounts within the KC metro.

[GraniteStater]

mjb62676,
You are right about the snowfall decreasing over the past many years. The average snowfall was historically around 20 inches but most years these days the KC area gets less than 20 inches. I am looking forward to moving to NH, and they get a lot of snow every year.

[mjb62676]

Originally Posted by Plains10

mjb62676,
You are right about the snowfall decreasing over the past many years. The average snowfall was historically around 20 inches but most years these days the KC area gets less than 20 inches. I am looking forward to moving to NH, and they get a lot of snow every year.

Used to get quite a bit colder too...Grew up in this area and the weather has changed a bit over the years.

Cyclic I suppose.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by mjb62676

Used to get quite a bit colder too...Grew up in this area and the weather has changed a bit over the years.

Cyclic I suppose.

I think the much warmer winters are the result of climate change. The average temperatures in the winter have been on the increase compared to the long-term normals for a number of years. Average annual snowfall has been on the decrease as well. KC does not get very cold in winter compared with the Midwest and areas north of 40N latitude. The number of days that the low temperature is below 0 is not very often, ESPECIALLY in the urban areas around KC. I am moving to New Hampshire for a job opportunity and I really like the fact that their are mountains and the Atlantic Ocean within a short drive. The diversity in the climate zones and vegetation in the mountain areas is also spectacular. The mountain areas in NH recorded -30F air temperatures this March, but this was near Mount Washington

[Versatile]

Go north of the Mo River in the KC area for snow. As other have said it is declining for our area; but they have more snow falls north of the river. imo

[citybythebay]

Originally Posted by jayhawks

I noticed there is a difference in which part of the state you live in. Also we don't want to live in the city, we don't even want to live in a neighborhood. So, does anyone know of any rural areas where it snows the most?

Yes, there is a difference in what part of the state you are in. I was down just outside of Rolla and this past winter it snowed quite a bit. And then there was the unforgettable ice storm. The highway was shut down at one point.
I recall driving up towards St.Louis around that same time and they hardly got anything.

[arives350]

Originally Posted by Plains10

I think the much warmer winters are the result of climate change. The average temperatures in the winter have been on the increase compared to the long-term normals for a number of years. Average annual snowfall has been on the decrease as well. KC does not get very cold in winter compared with the Midwest and areas north of 40N latitude. The number of days that the low temperature is below 0 is not very often, ESPECIALLY in the urban areas around KC. I am moving to New Hampshire for a job opportunity and I really like the fact that their are mountains and the Atlantic Ocean within a short drive. The diversity in the climate zones and vegetation in the mountain areas is also spectacular. The mountain areas in NH recorded -30F air temperatures this March, but this was near Mount Washington

You'll love New Hampshire. I went to college in Maine and fell in love with that area. Don't fret over the temps though. Mt. Washington, as you may well already know, is not representative of the weather in the region. It's actually very temperate for being such a Northern lattitude, especially if you live anywhere near the coast.

[loudestchick]

KCMO is about the worst for clearing off the streets after a big fall. Leawood is always claen as a whistle in no time...