Friday, February 26, 2010

New February and All-Time Monthly Snowfall Record for New York

March 1 Update: The preliminary monthly climate report for February confirms a snowfall of 20.9" for the Feb. 25-26 storm and 36.9" for the month.

Midnight Update: The latest report from the National Weather Service shows a storm total snowfall of 20.9" for Central Park, unchanged from late this afternoon. Unofficially, this is the 4th largest snowstorm since records began at New York's Central Park in 1869, exceeding the 20.2 inches on January 7-8, 1996, and just 0.1" less than the infamous blizzard of 1888. The 3 top snowfalls are:
  • 26.9 inches: February 11-12, 2006
  • 26.4 inches: December 26-27, 1947
  • 21.0 inches: March 12-14, 1888
6 PM Update: Another 0.1" has fallen later this afternoon, bringing the February total to 36.9".

The average temperature so far this month in Central Park is 33.1°, or 1.2° below normal. This is nearly 5° warmer than in 2007 when 3.8" or barely 10% as much snow fell. Total precipitation, however, is more than double the normal for the month.

Original post:
The National Weather Service has announced within the last few minutes that the February monthly snowfall record and all-time monthly snowfall record for Central Park, New York were both broken in the previous hour:
...RECORD FEBRUARY SNOWFALL SET AT CENTRAL PARK IS ALSO THE RECORD
MONTHLY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT CENTRAL PARK NY...

A SNOWFALL RECORD HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. AS OF
1:00 PM...THE TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE MONTH IS 36.8 INCHES. THIS
BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 27.9 INCHES SET IN 1934.

AN ALL TIME MONTHLY RECORD SNOWFALL OF 36.8 INCHES WAS SET AT
CENTRAL PARK NY AS OF 1:00 PM. THIS BREAKS THE ALL TIME SNOWIEST
MONTH RECORD FOR CENTRAL PARK. THE OLD RECORD WAS 30.5 INCHES SET
BACK IN MARCH 1896.

SNOW CONTINUES TO FALL...AND THE MONTHLY TOTAL FOR CENTRAL PARK WILL
BE UPDATED AS THE DAY PROGRESSES. CENTRAL PARK SNOW RECORDS DATE
BACK TO 1869.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

New All-Time Monthly Snowfall Record for Pittsburgh

Feb. 27 Update: From the National Weather Service:
AS OF 3 AM TODAY...THE MONTHLY SNOWFALL TOTAL HAS REACHED 46.8   
INCHES. FEBRUARY 2010 RANKS AS THE SNOWIEST MONTH EVER. THE PREVIOUS
RECORD FOR SNOWIEST MONTH WAS 40.2 IN JANUARY OF 1978.

THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR FEBRUARY WAS 25.3 IN 2003. THE NORMAL FOR
FEBRUARY IS 8.5 INCHES.

THE TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON SO FAR IS 75.0 INCHES. THIS RANKS
AS THE 5TH SNOWIEST SEASON ON RECORD.
Evening Update:
Note that the average temperature so far this month has now increased to 26.1° (3.9° below normal). This is over 5° warmer than in 2007, when just over one-third as much snow fell. The largest daily total of 11.4" fell on Feb. 5, a day which averaged above freezing and 5° above normal.

Original post:
The National Weather Service announced within the last hour that Pittsburgh has broken its record for snowiest month ever (measurements began in 1884). The 0.8" of snowfall today from the back edge of the powerful storm pounding the northeast has pushed the total for February to 40.8", just over the previous record of 40.2" in January 1978.

Several more inches of snow accumulation are forecast for tonight, Friday, and Friday night.

From the NWS:
THE TOP 5 SNOWIEST MONTHS...

40.8 FEBRUARY 2010.
40.2 JANUARY 1978.
36.3 DECEMBER 1890.
34.1 MARCH 1993.
32.3 NOVEMBER 1950.

THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR FEBRUARY WAS 25.3 IN 2003. THE NORMAL FOR
FEBRUARY IS 8.5 INCHES.

THE TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE SEASON SO FAR IS 69.0 INCHES. THIS RANKS
AS THE 8TH SNOWIEST SEASON ON RECORD.

THE SNOWIEST SEASONS...

82.0 1950-51.
78.5 1913-14.
76.8 1993-94.
76.0 1960-61.
74.5 1995-96.
72.1 1992-93.
70.7 1969-70.
69.0 2009-10.
40.6 NORMAL.

NORMAL FOR THE REST OF FEBRUARY IS ABOUT 1 INCH, MARCH 7.9
INCHES, AND APRIL 1.5 INCHES.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Bob Ryan Leaves WRC Channel 4

See Mediarology for the latest developments.

Feb. 27 Update: Video of Bob Ryan's goodbye broadcast from YouTube:



Midnight Friday Update: Bob Ryan made an emotional "final weekend forecast" and farewell to his audience and colleagues Jim Vance and Doreen Gentzler around 12:20 Saturday morning at the end of the Olympics-delayed local news broadcast.

Although he made no mention of future plans, dcrtv.com reported on Thursday that Ryan's speculated move to Channel 7 (WJLA) may be delayed by a contract non-compete clause. Such restrictions can potentially run as long as 6 months.

Original post:
The dcrtv blog reports that veteran weatherman Bob Ryan will be leaving NBC affiliate WRC-TV (Channel 4) on Friday after 31 years at the station. Ryan's departure, announced as a retirement, leaves open the possibility of his joining forces with long-time weatherman Doug Hill at ABC's WJLA, Channel 7, although no deal has been announced. Ryan, the dean of Washington TV meteorologists, has always been a class act since the Climate Capitalist first viewed his weathercast on WCVB-TV shortly after Ryan began his career in Boston.

Here is Ryan's bio from the undoubtedly soon-to-be defunct web page of NBC-4:
Bob Ryan has been News4’s Chief Meteorologist since 1980 making him the longest-serving weathercaster in Washington. His weather reports air weekdays on News4 at 5, 6 and 11 and on NBCWashington.com. And, listeners to NPR affiliate WAMU-FM can hear Ryan’s forecasts afternoons during All Things Considered.

Ryan’s career began in Cambridge, Mass. where he was involved in cloud physics research with Arthur D. Little, Inc. A side job as a broadcast meteorologist turned into a fulltime job as principal meteorologist for Boston’s WCVB-TV. In 1978, Ryan became the first meteorologist to regularly appear on NBC’s Today show.

As Chief Meteorologist, Ryan has initiated and supported many unique programs at NBC4. For 25 years, his annual Almanac provided weather and environmental information while raising more than $500,000 for local children’s charities. He also created the 4WINDS (Weather Interactive Demonstration Schoolnet) Network that placed more than 400 interactive weather stations in area schools. In 2006, that system was upgraded and expanded to become Weather Plus Neighborhood Network. Hundreds of thousands of kids who grow up in the Washington area enjoy a hands-on introduction to meteorology from these systems.

Ryan was also co-investigator for a project that brought NASA and NBC4 together to lead one of the first television weather sites on the Internet, WeatherNet4. Today, NBC4’s strong web weather presence takes the shape of weatherplus.com, a website and a cable channel which provides round-the-clock forecasts and weather information.
Ryan is also actively involved professionally in his science. In 1996, he was elected president of the American Meteorological Society; he is the only broadcaster to have led this prestigious organization. Ryan has also served the AMS as Chair of the Committee of Broadcast Meteorology, Commissioner of Professional Affairs and member of the Council of the Society. He has also served on the Board of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate for the National Academy of Science two committees of the National Research Council, and the Advisory Committee of the Geoscience Directorate of the National Science Foundation. Ryan’s expertise has been called upon repeatedly to testify before various committees of Congress

During his career, Ryan has received numerous awards, including regional Emmys for Weathercasting and the Ted Yates Emmy for outstanding service to the community. His alma mater, the University of Albany, presented him with a "Distinguished Alumni" award, and the AMS gave him The Charles Franklin Brooks Award for his outstanding service.

Despite these awards and his distinguished career, Ryan is proudest of his role as husband and father. He and his family reside in Northern Virginia.
From dcrtv's mailbag, here is a copy of the email distributed this afternoon at WRC:
Bob Ryan has been an important fixture in our newsroom for 31 years. He has covered everything from tornadoes to hurricanes and of course the occasional blizzard. Millions of area residents have come to depend on his forecast. After much discussion with him, Bob has decided it is time for a change. So Friday will be his last day at NBC4. We can't thank him enough for his dedication and passion. He will certainly be missed. Bob asked me to share the following note with you: "Even for a snow loving meteorologist this has been some winter. And for this snow loving and every other kind of weather loving meteorologist this has been some ride. It’s also been more fun than one person should have over 30 years in the same job with some of the same friends and colleagues for 20-30 years. But this winter’s snows are now pausing and so will I. Yogi Berra said, 'When you come to a fork in the road take it.' I’m going to take that great philosopher’s advice. This fork leads to more time with my wonderful wife Olga, who has had to deal with more storm related power outages and unshoveled walks alone than any spouse should ever have to put up with. I have had the wonderful fortune to work for and with many of the most dedicated people I know, who care deeply about what we do and why we do it. I may not have the opportunity after Friday to sit next to Doreen, Vance, Wendy, Jim or have the fun of interacting with my long time colleagues Tom, Veronica and Chuck and so many of you. But I will always have great affection for everyone here and you will be in my thoughts as you have been part of my professional life. If anyone asks, tell them let’s meet upstairs at Guapo’s when the snow melts, after this winter we all need a beverage and I know I still owe Collins another Jameson"

Monday, February 22, 2010

Update: Washington, DC Breaks Modern February Record For Days of Snow on Ground

For related posts, see:Feb. 22 AM Update: A remaining snow depth of 1" this morning gives Washington 21 days in February with snow on the ground, breaking the record from 1934. The average snow cover for the month is now 9.8".

Dulles has a snow depth of 5", and BWI is at 3".

Feb. 22 Update: A high temperature of 50° on Sunday led to 2" more of melting, but 2" of snow remains on the ground at 1 am, virtually assuring that the record will be broken 6 hours from now.

Dulles is at 5", and BWI has 3" of snow on the ground.

Feb. 21 AM Update: Today's 4" snow depth ties 2010 with 1934 for the record highest number of February days (20) with snow cover since 1930. Average snow depth for the month so far is 10.2".

Feb. 20 AM Update: Temperatures remained above freezing overnight for the 3rd consecutive day, but snow depth declined only 1" to 6" on day 19 of February snow cover. This puts 2010 into a tie with 1979 for 2nd place. Average snow depth for the month so far is 10.6".

Snow depth at Dulles is 8" and BWI is at 6".

Feb. 19 AM Update: Day 18, snow depth 7". This year is now in sole possession of 3rd place, one day away from 1979.

Feb. 18 AM Update: This morning's snow depth is 9". This February's count of 17 days with snow on the ground is now tied with 1961 for 3rd place.

Original post:
With a late January snowstorm and two monster February storms, Washington, DC has now had measurable snow on the ground for 16 out of the first 17 days this month. This morning's measurement showed a remaining depth of 10" after reaching a high of 21" on the 11th.

A CapitalClimate analysis of daily data since measurements began at or near the current National Airport location in 1930 shows that 2010 has now tied with 2003 for the number of days in February with 1" or more on the ground. That puts this year tied for 4th place, behind 1961, 1979, and 1934. Barring an unforeseen meltdown, the 1961 3rd place record of 17 will be tied tomorrow. With temperatures expected to remain in minimal melting territory through the rest of the week, the 80-year record of 20 days in 1934 could be tied on Sunday the 21st.

Image (click to enlarge): Washington, DC February daily snow depth for 2010 and historical comparison; CapitalClimate chart from National Weather Service data

Seasonal Outlook

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Latest 3-month temperature outlook from Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA.