Great Barrington — Although Punxsutawney Phi has predicted 6 more weeks of winter, he never said what kind of winter it would be. Will it be a white winter or wet brown winter? Will we get more snow or more rain and ice? That is the question everyone wants to know, especially the people who keep our roads, driveways and walkways free of frozen stuff.
In other winters snow would be the rule as in the photo above of me clearing a walkway in my back yard in February 1994. I recorded 25 inches that month to go along the almost 40 inches the month before.
Other winters, like 1988-89 less than 2 feet of snow fell all winter, but more rain, much of it freezing on contact.
The winter snow totals average 64 inches. Seven of the last 10 years snow totals have been below average and this winter may add to the total. Rain totals for that period have been near average, but it’s the timing. Very often, like this winter, rain follows snow then back to below freezing to turn surfaces to ice.
Now February temperatures which can be colder than January’s.
Valentine’s day this year was the 13th coldest love day in my weather records. Three of the four coldest have been in this century.
Winter stats:
Average total snow: 64.5”
Most snow winter 1995-96 152.3”
Least snow winter 1988-89 16.6”
February average snow 14.8”
Most snow 34.1” 2015
Least snow 1.7” 1998
The Coldest Valentine’s day
Year Hi Temp Lo Temp SKY
2016 7 -14 FAIR
