Its Wintertime, Does Anyone Really Enjoy Winter?

[mikegeukes]

Its Wintertime, does anyone really enjoy the winter?

Average Snowfall Totals Source: NCDC
------------------------------------------------------
Colorado:
42.4 in Colorado Springs, 60.3 in Denver, 33.2 in Pueblo

Illinois:
38.5 in Chicago, 30.7 in Moline, 24.9 in Peoria ,35.2 in Rockford ,23.1 in Springfield

Indiana:
14.1 in Evansville, 32.4 in Fort Wayne, 23.6 in Indianapolis, 70.8 in South Bend

Iowa:
33.1 in Des Moines, 42.7 in Dubuque, 31.9 in Sioux City, 31.9 in Waterloo

Kansas:
21.7 in Concordia, 20.3 in Dodge City, 37.7 in Goodland, 20.7 in Topeka, 15.7 in Wichita

Michigan:
41.1 in Detroit, 44.9 in Flint, 73.2 in Grand Rapids, 74.4 in Houghton Lake
48.8 in Lansing, 96.1 in Muskegon, 141.0 in Marquette(City), 117.4 in Sault Ste Marie

Minnesota:
80.7 in Duluth, 65.5 in International Falls, 49.9 in Minneapolis, 48.9 in Rochester, 45.1 in St. Cloud

Missouri:
22.8 in Columbia, 19.9 in Kansas City, 19.6 in Saint Louis, 17.8 in. Springfield

Nebraska:
30.3 in Grand Island, 27.8 in Lincoln, 29.9 in Norfolk, 29.9 in North Platte
29.9 in Omaha, 41.2 in Scottsbluff , 33.5 in Valentine

North Dakota:
44.3 in Bismarck, 40.8 in Fargo, 41.9 in Willston

Oklahoma:
09.5 in Oklahoma City, 10.0 in Tulsa

South Dakota:
37.0 in Aberdeen, 41.2 in Huron, 39.7 in Rapid City, 41.1 in Sioux Falls

Texas:
04.6 in Abilene, 16.4 in Amarillo, 00.9 in Austin, Trace Brownsville, Trace Corpus Christi, 02.6 in Dallas, 00.9 in Del Rio, 05.3 in El Paso, 00.2 in Galveston, 00.4 in Houston, 04.6 in Midland, 00.3 in Port Arthur, 03.1 in San Angelo, 00.7 in San Antonio, 00.1 in Victoria, 01.4 in Waco, 05.8 in Wichita Falls

Wisconsin:
47.7 in Green Bay, 43.0 in La Crosse, 44.1 in Madison , 47.3 in Milwaukee

Mike

[Kevin Scharfenberg]

I love the challenge of forecasting winter storms...it sharpens the skills in advance of the spring season. To be honest, I'm still a kid at heart - staying up at night hoping it snows!

[Aaron Kennedy]

Donuts, Sledding, Snow Football, more Donuts.

Nuff' Said.

Aaron

[Laura Duchesne]

Well... I really don't like the cold, I am more of a warm weather person myself... consider that ironic though since I am Canadian and born during the winter! :lol:

But other than the cold, I do like to watch the snow fall. Big snowflakes rule! And forecasting winter storms is exciting for me plus it's much easier than forecasting when or where a supercell will pop up :o

And hey, when it's winter, it means Christmas, New Year's and my birthday are just around the corner! After all those dates are over with, the snow can all melt for all I care LOL 8)

[Jeff Wear]

I hate snow, and I hate ice. Hate driving on it, hate walking on it. The only ice I like seeing fall out of the sky is hail.

[Jeff Miller]

I Love it!!! Snowstorms have always fascinated me. :)

Nuff said
:lol:

[Karen Rhoden]

Originally posted by OU_WxGuesser
Donuts, Sledding, Snow Football, more Donuts.

Nuff' Said.

Aaron

Ahhh.....a man after my own heart!! Amen!

They've gotta be Krispy Kreme's, mind........... :P

I guess I must too be a big kid - but it is notoriously difficult and therefore challenging to forecast (or as I call it *guess*) at winter storms.
But seriously - there can be nothing more special than waking up to the sound of snow-silence in the morning - as the few cars that are moving make no sounds while driving down the neighbourhood, and the land is blanketed in white stuff. It's just as special - and apparently rarer here in the "Norman pit-effect" area than springtime storms!!!

My 0.02,

Karen Rhoden

www.stormskies.com

[Scott A. Kampas]

I really don't like winter. First of all, I like summer warmth, activities, and thunderstorms. Those aren't around in winter (mostly). What I like even less is the cold. I can't stand it, yes, you can dress for cold unlike the heat, but I'd rather be hot than cold. Of course, my physique is built for heat rather than cold. If it's gonna be cold though, it might as well be interesting and snow. It's a pain in the neck for travel, but is beautiful when freshly fallen and yes, fun to play in! I too enjoy the daunting challenge of winter forecasting. Another thing I don't like about winter are the dreary days. I probably suffer from S.A.D. to some degree, I feel energyless and less happy on dreary days, I need the sun! I of course suffer from SDS as well!

P.S. Mmmm, Krispy Kreme!

[Morgan Palmer]

I hate heat. I hate Texas summers (except for the occasional air-mass storm).

I love snow, I love winter weather, and cold wx means all you have to do is bundle up.

That said, I've never lived north of 33 degrees latitude!

Morgan K5TVT
lived in Texas all my life.

[mikedeason]

When I was a kid, I dreamed many times of living in the northern clime, a place in my mind where winter lasted at least 9 months of the year and snow was never measured in inches, only feet. A place where each day you could make not only a snowman, but create a whole snowperson family reunion. A place where you could build and rebuild snow fortresses of all shapes and sizes and attack your enemy's snow fortress with large, catapult-launched snowboulders. It was my life's ambition to make that dream come true.

You see, we didn't get much snow in central Alabama. 2 inches would cause a major shutdown of everything, not the least of which were the schools. Oh, how we would rejoice! But, we also knew that in most cases, we'd have maybe have 2, 3 hours max to have fun in the fleeting snow, until it melted away and we were left once again with red, gooey clay. I HAD to get north.

But, a funny thing happened on my journey to the winterwonderland up north. I grew up.

So, when I got up here, the childhood magical visions I held of parading down the street with Frosty melted into the cold reality that the stuff I had longed for for so many years was nothing but a major headache!

So, do I like winter? You be the judge. :-)

Regards,

Mike

[Morgan Palmer]

The joke at my high school in Abilene was that if someone spilled a snow cone on the highway, they would cancel school.

Not far from the truth.

Morgan

[Sarah]

Being that I live in California, winter is really the only time that I have any "excitement" (except for the occasional summer monsoonal thunderstorm in the Sierra/Nv's). It's always fascinating to track the storms coming in from the Pacific, and at least to try to forecast their route and intensity (snow levels are the most fun to attempt to predict).

Sometimes after a cold front moves through in late winter, it will lead to some instability in the valleys and possibly a few cold-core funnels, which is about as exciting as it gets over here.

So for me, winter isn't that bad - but if I lived in the midwest or plains, where "real" storms occur, winter probably wouldn't be my favorite time of year either!

Sarah

[mikegeukes]

Dislike,snow, clouds and cold.

[Howard Robinson]

When I use to live in Georgia, any snow would close down the town.
It was funny, the 4 letter word snow would send people in to the stores to buy up all the bread and milk.

Now, that I am in Canada, I am learning to hate snow :). Right now is 14F and about 4 feet of snow on the ground.

[Ben Cotton]

Originally posted by ScottK
I of course suffer from SDS as well!

I don't suffer from SDS...I'm "Convectively Challenged."

Originally posted by ScottK
P.S. Mmmm, Krispy Kreme!

Ohhh yeah. Ever since they opened up a KK here in Lafayette, I have been known to spend hours there with my "gang", eating donuts and watching a BMW sit in the parking lot for 30 minutes without anyone entering or exiting. What an exciting town...


Ben

[Ryan Trullinger]

You can't beat the feeling taking a walk by yourself or with your significant other when the snow is falling lightly, in the evening. (anyone know what the sound is called, that your shoes make when walking in newly fallen snow?)

[Jeff Miller]

That sound I call the "CRUNCH".

Of course if it's slush I call it the "SPLURSH".

And if it's ice I would call it "WHOAA" :lol:

Regards.

[Mike Umscheid]

I am probably one of the biggest winter weather nuts on this forum. Moving to the high plains, I knew what I had to look forward to. The center of it all for high plains supercells in the warm season (well, at least until about mid June, then it's the dry downburst/microburst mecca of the world!), and snow with high winds in the cold season, with the occasional big blizzard. I love to forecast winter system, and the combination of my love for winter storms and forecasting them, I took over the winter weather focal point duties at my forecast office.

http://www.underthemeso.com/winter/2003dec09/Dscn7005.jpg

I love the gentle fall of light snow which forms a nice even blanket on everything, however the combination of snow and high wind always interests me. I get this all the time in southwest Kansas. The wind can sculpt the snow in amazing formations that even the most imaginative mind can't really create.

http://www.underthemeso.com/winter/2003dec09/Dscn7060.jpg


And there's also something about seeing the snow blow completely sideways with visibility near zero and hearing that deafening "howl" that all blizzards seem to make. I have experienced two events that have been classified as blizzards in Dodge City since I moved down here, each 4 hour events. One of these days, the big one will come (perhaps something like 3/22-25/1957... a 44hr blizzard in Dodge City... okay maybe not). I'm not sure how I'll react! That may be a little excessive :wink:

http://www.underthemeso.com/winter/2003dec09/Dscn7057.jpg

Mike U

[Angie Norris]

I must still be a kid at heart, because I can't wait to get snowed in (and Here in East TN it doesn't take much, only 1-2"!!). Snow days involve playing in the snow and eating (well, that part DOES involve some work, but cooking things that one really shouldn't eat that much of makes it more fun!!).
Sitting here with snow flurries coming down (and little hope of getting ANYTHING useful out of it :cry: ), while 60 miles to the east in the mountains there's 15" and counting :cry:
At least the models are hinting at a possible Christmas present from Mom Nature :wink:
Anxiously awaiting May
Angie

[Nick Smith]

I enjoy winter, as long as there is some interesting weather going on. Snow and ice can be nice to look at, but just not fun to drive on. I really like trying to forecast precipitation and snowfall amounts with winter storms. Warm season severe weather will probably always be my first love, but winter storms will be high on my list.

[George Tincher]

I have mixed feelings about Winter. I love the first few snows each season, but I do get rather tired of it after the new wears off so to speak. My favorite thing is getting a nice snow that does a good job of covering everything and hangs around a couple of days. Then I won't it gone! Snow that occurs during really cold periods that just lies there on the ground for a week at a time is not my idea of fun. Nor is the frozen precipitation that makes driving a hassle and takes out the powerlines. And standing outside for 20 minutes trying to pour warm water around my car door to get it unfrozen (did that this morning) is no fun either! So Winter obviously has it's up's and downs. But I think I still prefer Winter to those days when it's 90+ outside and humid. At least when it's cold you can layer on the clothing. But when it's too hot, there is only so much you can do to cool off. I guess that explains why I am a Spring and Fall kinda guy!

[mrobinson]

At least when it's cold you can layer on the clothing. But when it's too hot, there is only so much you can do to cool off.

I disagree, if it is hot you can get instant relief by jumping in a pool, walking into a air conditioned room, even pouring water over your head etc but when you are cold it can take up to 45 minutes to thaw out.. I hate the cold and when the first snow falls I start making escape plans back to Texas. Give me 109 in the shade any day. As far as driving on the snow well to be honest if it snows I am quite litterally stuck at home. I cannot drive on snow or ice and for my saftey and that of others I don't even attempt to get on the roads until they are cleared. I have a hit things issue that my insurance company is growing rather tired of LOL..

[John Olexa]

as long as I have mething to photograph, I don't care what season it is.
Johnhttp://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-12/552263/KUUKM-snowmailbox.JPG

[Ben Cotton]

For me, winter means chosing at 7:15AM between walking to class in sub-zero (well, at least last winter) wind chills or waiting for the overcrowded CityBus (http://www.gocitybus.com) to get me to class late. As far as I'm concerned, the best thing winter is good for is reminding me of the Simon and Garfunkel song "I Am A Rock." A winters day/in a deep and dark December....


Waiting for spring,
Ben

[Joey Ketcham]

Like most, as a kid I enjoyed snow and ice but I think a majority of that was because snow and ice meant a day off from school. But now being in my 20's, I hate having to go through winter. The only thing winter offer's me is downtime to freshen up for the next storm season.

I guess you could say now is the time I upgrade my equipment, maps, and look at my goals and plans for the upcoming season. But other than that, I hate it. Not so much now as I did when I worked in TV, that was horrid. We would have a ton of ice and snow on the ground and when I worked in TV all I did all day was drive around on the stuff.. that sucked!

But now that I work just a few blocks from the house in IT, I don't worry about it anymore.

[Matteo Calzà]

I like all the seasons: they have all their beautiful things.

But I literally love winter: deep blue skies ... clear and frosty air ... snow ... fog ... skiing ... Holidays ... (and basketball :wink: ).

[Shyanna Busch]

I LOVE winter!!! It's my favorite season. I can't stand the heat. I can't stand to get all hot and sweaty. I love driving in the snow and ice. I love bundling up under a blanket and watching a movie. I have a theory: If you are hot, you cannot take off enough layers to cool down, but if you are cold, you can always put more layers on to warm up.

[Robert Dewey]

Winter storms are right up there with severe thunderstorms for me. Nothing beats the feeling of a <980mb monster moving at you. I like 'em all... From blizzards to ice storms... It's the fun of forecasting them - from looking at isentropic analysis to cross sections of CSI...

MI got hit pretty good back by the Great Blizzard of 1978, which a monster SFC low of 950mb tracked through central OH into Toronto, Canada. Several locations got over a foot of snow, with winds gusting up and over 90MPH! Another storm like this just can't come soon enough for me! Here is the SFC map from 1978 - http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/stories/images...n26_12Z_SFC.jpg (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/stories/images/Jan26_12Z_SFC.jpg)

And you can go here for the full story on the Blizzard -
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/?page=stories/blizzard1978

[Joel Wright]

MI got hit pretty good back by the Great Blizzard of 1978, which a monster SFC low of 950mb tracked through central OH into Toronto, Canada. Several locations got over a foot of snow, with winds gusting up and over 90MPH!


WOW!! 950mb!?!!?! That had to be crazy! I've never seen a winter storm that strong in the middle part of the country. The strongest one I've personally seen was back in December of 1987 I believe. That one brought us over a foot of snow with 60+mph winds and thunder.

I LOVE forcasting winter storms. Probably more than thunderstorms. There's nothing like checking every single model run as it comes in during the winter months anticipating all the changes in the tracks and forecasts... :lol:


*edit.....About two minutes after posting this, I felt a weak earthquake.

[Bryan Burkholder]

Winter. Bleh. Furthest north I have lived in my life is here in Norman, OK. I think I would almost tend to agree most of the time with a high school friend of mine from CA, that water should not be in its solid form outside except for in the mountains (where you can go visit the snow).

I love snow, but only for about 2 days. Then it is time for the snow to melt and temps to get back in the 60's to 70's. And you have less daylight in the winter (at least in the No. Hemisphere), so much more time in darkness. Chasing aside, I would love for spring/summer to be here all year long. Gimme that nice juicy 80 degree dewpoint air!!! AHHHHHHH! ;)

If we were meant to live in places covered in snow, we would have natural fur coats of our own !!!!;)

[Robert Dewey]

MI got hit pretty good back by the Great Blizzard of 1978, which a monster SFC low of 950mb tracked through central OH into Toronto, Canada. Several locations got over a foot of snow, with winds gusting up and over 90MPH!


WOW!! 950mb!?!!?! That had to be crazy! I've never seen a winter storm that strong in the middle part of the country. The strongest one I've personally seen was back in December of 1987 I believe. That one brought us over a foot of snow with 60+mph winds and thunder.

I LOVE forcasting winter storms. Probably more than thunderstorms. There's nothing like checking every single model run as it comes in during the winter months anticipating all the changes in the tracks and forecasts... :lol:


*edit.....About two minutes after posting this, I felt a weak earthquake.

Yeah, 950mb... Though I was not around to witness that storm :(. Usually SFC lows that strong stay just offshore (AKA a Nor'easter). Other than that, the lowest pressure I have seen is ~960-965mb during the Superstorm of '93. But 950mb is a hurricane like pressure, quite amazing at that!

[Matteo Calzà]

http://www.arcibalbo-santarcangelo.it/store/ScanImage04.jpg

Minnesota ? Nebraska ? South Dakota ?

No, Bologna in north Italy 8) :wink:

[Matteo Calzà]

http://www.emiliameteo.it/report/nevetreolmi/3a.jpg

http://www.emiliameteo.it/report/nevetreolmi/1a.jpg

Michigan ? Iowa ?

No, Modena in north Italy :roll: :wink:

[Bridget Beddow]

We don't get too much snow here on the coast of NC but we've had our moments - It can snow anywhere from 2-6 inches but the condition of the roadways usually lends to determining if we're out - The saying around here is "If you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes and walk around the corner...it'll change." I happen to enjoy watching puppies play in their first snow. My lab/cock.spaniel mix, Alex, could not understand it at all. She took chunks in her mouth and tossed it around, I guess trying to determine if it was anything like her toys because that's what she does to bones and rope-toys. She'd watch it fall and then stare at it waiting for any sudden movement for her to pounce on.