Winter missing from the Lower 48

[marmar]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Snow has been missing in action for much of the U.S. the last couple months. But it's not just snow. It's practically the season that's gone AWOL.

"What winter?" asked Mike Halpert, deputy director of the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center. For the Lower 48, January was the third-least snowy on record, according to the Global Snow Lab at Rutgers University. Records for the amount of ground covered by snow go back to 1967.

Last year, more than half the nation was covered in snow as a Groundhog Day blizzard barreled across the country, killing 36 people and causing $1.8 billion in damage. This year, less than a fifth of the country outside of Alaska has snow on the ground.

Bismarck, N.D., has had one-fifth its normal snow, Boston a third. Buffalo is three feet below normal for snowfall this year. Midland, Texas, has had more snow this season than Minneapolis or Chicago. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/wheres-snow-not-lower-48-elsewhere-230700692.html

[Rex]

1. It is funny watching the weatherman guess day to day.

Then getting it wrong most of the time.

[Brickbat]

2. I know, I hate it. I love winter and snow, and enjoy living in a place with four seasons.

This winter has been a nightmare. We were in a drought already in the fall, and are now far behind on rain and snow levels needed.

[leeroysphitz]

3. Yesterday, on the 1st day of February, it was 65 and sunny in Detroit Michigan.

I think I remember that being one of the signs of the end times...

[Lawlbringer]

4. I read somewhere that this wasn't a symptom of global warming

but having really cold winters are symptoms of global warming.

Is that true?

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Global warming sees extreme weather

This is extreme, in a way, like snowmageddon... The mechanisms are different. The latter is way too much water in atmosphere due to evaporation from warmer weather somewhere else.

We are seeing worst droughts, and overal weird weather.

On the bright side the us is just really starting to feel it. Lower latitudes, it's bad...

[Johonny]

16. +1

It is hard to know if one bad snow storm or one locally warm/cold winter are totally due to long term climate effects. However the overall pattern of effects suggest you will experience more extreme weather events.

[Horse with no Name]

9. The terminology is wrong

Global climate change...

in other words, where it is cold, it is hot. Where it is hot, it hot, it is cold.

The problem is, that the vegetation in cold climates is not hearty enough to withstand hot temperatures...conversely the vegetation in hot climates cannot withstand cold climates.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Like you I prefer climactic change.

[XemaSab]

12. Not so much cold, but snowy

Warmer air can hold more moisture.

[surfdog]

5. 80° in Key West

Last winter we set a record low

This winter very very mild

[Raven]

6. I have about a dozen robins in my

yard today eating holly berries. I've never seen them here in sw nh in February.

[Horse with no Name]

11. There was nothing to mow here in July because of the heat

But with the rain and mild temps, have had to mow my lawn in December and January.

I cannot recall ever having to do that.

[justiceischeap]

7. I have croci blooming

croci = plural of crocus

[Blue_In_AK]

10. Winter got stuck in Alaska this year.

We've had one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record so far.

Crazy college kids at UAF:

[Confusious]

17. My dad said 84 inches of snow

in anchorage, 12 below.

In Tucson, I'm whinning because it's 40 degrees.( oh, I should add, I think I got frostbite during the winter of '90, so I'm a little sensitive now)

That's always how it seems to go. Harsh winter in Alaska, mild in the lower 48. Harsh in the lower 48, mild in Alaska.

[Blue_In_AK]

18. It's over 90 inches now,

but the temp has finally warmed up to around 30, at least for now.

[msongs]

13. major snow forming today in Colorado, Kansas, and adjacent areas. have a nice blizzard :-) nt

[Retrograde]

14. We're heading into our 3rd dry month in a row

We're in the middle of the rainy season, and we've had one day of rain since the end of November, and the Sierra snowpack is at one of the lowest levels on record. Expect the prices of California fruits and vegetables to go up this summer.

[Evasporque]

15. My bad....

I bought new skis this year....so it stands to reason it would be one of the worst winters for snow in 30 years....

But at least Jackson Hole has snow.....going there.

[Noodleboy13]

20. High 30s here. No snow to speak of.

In Minneapolis. In February.
It's been great for cycling but this is not typical Minnesota weather.

peace
Noodleboy