Winter Weather Predictions This Year? (Pittsburgh: floor, driveways, work)

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by Qilin34

For KPIT it's 28.6", just under half of last season's. And we still have the rest of Jan, Feb, Mar, and Apr to go...

And for all we know, February, March and April could all be warmer than normal, with little snow.

The winter of 1992-1993 is one of the 10 snowiest in Pittsburgh history, no thanks to January 1993, which totaled only 2.1" of snow. And after February 2010 became the snowiest month on record, March 2010 totaled 0.5" of snow.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by SammyKhalifa

This must be some sort of paradise, this "Beaver Falls." :P

Oh, it is! It's my hometown.

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by HeavenWood

Pittsburgh's averages are recorded at the airport, which has an elevation of 1,203'. This is actually on the high side as far as greater Pittsburgh snowfall averages go. The 1981-2010 averages slate the airport at 41.9". As for other places in Greater PGH:

Laurel Mountain, Westmoreland Cty (2,760') = 89.6"
Chalk Hill, Fayette Cty (1,980') = 89.0"
Confluence Dam, Fayette Cty (1,490') = 59.3"
Derry, Westmoreland Cty (1,060') = 45.7"
Sagamore, Armstrong Cty (1,160') = 40.1"
Slippery Rock, Butler Cty (1,250') = 37.6"
Butler, Butler Cty (1,000') = 36.3"
Putneyville, Armstrong Cty (1,280') = 32.9"
Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland Cty (1,003') = 32.6"
Washington, Washington Cty (1,300') = 28.5"
Salina, Westmoreland Cty (1,109') = 28.3"
Uniontown, Fayette Cty (956') = 25.9"
Loyalhanna Lake, Westmoreland Cty (990') = 25.8"
Connellsville, Washington Cty (900') = 23.4"
New Stanton, Westmoreland Cty (950') = 20.0"
Donora, Washington Cty (762') = 18.1"
Montgomery L&D, Beaver Cty (690') = 15.5"
Charleroi Lock, Washington Cty (749') = 13.7"
Beaver Falls, Beaver Cty (760') = 9.5"

All data is available here:
http://ggweather.com/normals/PA.html

Besides the first three, I don't believe any of those at all. Even Nashville probably gets more snow than the bottom three in a year.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Besides the first three, I don't believe any of those at all. Even Nashville probably gets more snow than the bottom three in a year.

Take it up with the NOAA. Again, keep in mind that the majority of those bottom measurements are basically alongside river banks. Climactic averages are a complicated animal and quite often don't match up with individuals' subjective perceptions. Also understand that these averages can change considerably in short distances.

Take the Laurel Summit weather station in Somerset County. It's just a mile or two from the Laurel Mountain weather station in neighboring Westmoreland County. Yet, it averages 151.6" of snow each year--almost double Laurel Mountain's 89.6". Its elevation is also 30 feet lower, yet its annual average temperature is a full two degrees cooler. Elevation and latitude are only two of many factors that dictate a particular place's climate.

[Qilin34]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

And for all we know, February, March and April could all be warmer than normal, with little snow.

The winter of 1992-1993 is one of the 10 snowiest in Pittsburgh history, no thanks to January 1993, which totaled only 2.1" of snow. And after February 2010 became the snowiest month on record, March 2010 totaled 0.5" of snow.

True, true; I would be very surprised if month-to-month correlations existed. Still does not change the fact that that is the most pre-New Year's snow in a season since the infamous 1995/96 winter

[gortonator]

Originally Posted by HeavenWood

Take it up with the NOAA. Again, keep in mind that the majority of those bottom measurements are basically alongside river banks. Climactic averages are a complicated animal and quite often don't match up with individuals' subjective perceptions. Also understand that these averages can change considerably in short distances.

Take the Laurel Summit weather station in Somerset County. It's just a mile or two from the Laurel Mountain weather station in neighboring Westmoreland County. Yet, it averages 151.6" of snow each year--almost double Laurel Mountain's 89.6". Its elevation is also 30 feet lower, yet its annual average temperature is a full two degrees cooler. Elevation and latitude are only two of many factors that dictate a particular place's climate.

ah - so true - understanding the context of these readings is very important indeed.

[ditchdigger]

Speaking strictly anecdotally, from 19 years plowing snow, it always seemed to me that of the three months of the heart of winter, generally we only get two of real wintery weather. Some years it doesn't snow until near Christmas, and some years January is pretty mild, and some years spring begins in February, but in general, we don't get three straight months of this stuff...

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by HeavenWood

Take it up with the NOAA. Again, keep in mind that the majority of those bottom measurements are basically alongside river banks. Climactic averages are a complicated animal and quite often don't match up with individuals' subjective perceptions. Also understand that these averages can change considerably in short distances.

Take the Laurel Summit weather station in Somerset County. It's just a mile or two from the Laurel Mountain weather station in neighboring Westmoreland County. Yet, it averages 151.6" of snow each year--almost double Laurel Mountain's 89.6". Its elevation is also 30 feet lower, yet its annual average temperature is a full two degrees cooler. Elevation and latitude are only two of many factors that dictate a particular place's climate.

That's really stupid then in my opinion.

[Sealtite]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

And for all we know, February, March and April could all be warmer than normal, with little snow.

The winter of 1992-1993 is one of the 10 snowiest in Pittsburgh history, no thanks to January 1993, which totaled only 2.1" of snow. And after February 2010 became the snowiest month on record, March 2010 totaled 0.5" of snow.

Right now I'm thinking the winter of 2008-2009 might be a good analog year in comparison to this winter. I've got a hunch that by mid-month we're gonna see a pattern flip and it's gonna stick for the remainder of winter.

[ditchdigger]

With rain in the forecast for tomorrow, melting snow, and then temperatures going off the proverbial cliff, there's lots of potential for black ice tomorrow night and beyond. Everybody be careful...