Environment

‘What Winter?‘ Here’s What’s Happening With the Weather

Most of U.S. Experiences Record Lows for Winter Snowfall

Doug Csongei chips to the first green at Big Met golf course in Fairview Park, Ohio Tuesday, Jan. 31. (Photo: AP/Mark Duncan)

WASHINGTON (The Blaze/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. Midland Texas has had more snow this season than Minneapolis or Chicago.

Forget snow, for much of the country there’s not even a nip in the air. On Tuesday, the last day in January, all but a handful of states had temperatures in the 50s or higher. In Washington, DC, where temperatures flirted with the 70s, some cherry trees are already budding -weeks early.

“I am disgusted that golfers are golfing on my cross-country ski course,” said New Jersey state climatologist David Robinson, director of the Global Snow Lab.

Most of U.S. Experiences Record Lows for Winter Snowfall

Larry Lewis, left, and Ken Perron jog through an underpass at Branch Brook Park in Newark, N.J., during a warm winter day, Wednesday, Feb. 1. (Photo:AP/Julio Cortez)

But why is this happening?

The reason is changes in Arctic winds that are redirecting snow and cold. Instead of dipping down low, the jet stream winds that normally bring cold and snow south got trapped up north. It’s called the Arctic Oscillation. Think of it as a cousin to the famous El Nino.

When the Arctic Oscillation is in a positive phase, the winds spin fast in the Arctic keeping the cold north. But in the past few days, the Arctic Oscillation turned negative, though not in its normal way, Halpert said. The cold jet stream dipped in Europe and Asia, but is still bottled up over North America.

That’s because another weather phenomena, called the North Atlantic Oscillation is playing oddball by staying positive and keeping the cold away from the rest of North America. About 90 percent of the time, the North Atlantic and Arctic oscillations are in sync, Halpert said. But not this time, so much of the United States is escaping the winter’s worst.

But there is lots of snow and dangerous cold – it’s just elsewhere in the world. Valdez, Alaska, has had 328 inches of snow this season — 10 feet above average — and the state is frigid, with Yukon hitting a record 66 below zero over the weekend. (Related: Check out this Blaze article and post with YouTube videos on Alaska’s record snowfall.)

Nearly 80 people have died from a vicious cold snap in Europe, and much of Asia has been blanketed with snow. This January has been the ninth snowiest since 1966 for Europe and Asia, though for the entire northern hemisphere, it’s been about average for snow this season.

The weather is so cold that some areas of the Black Sea have frozen near the Romanian coastline, and rare snowfalls have occurred on islands in the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. Ukraine alone has reported 43 fatalities, many of the victims homeless people found dead on streets.

Watch the AP report:

Fox News reports that the warmer weather in the U.S. isn’t just throwing humans for a loop but wildlife as well. In what it describes as the “Jumanji effect”, hibernating animals like bears and bats will wake earlier than normal. Unfortunately, plant life hasn’t quite kicked in yet, and the animals waking won‘t be able to find the food they’re looking for.

“We’ve just had a remarkable run of unusual winters in the past six years globally,” said Jeff Masters, director of meteorology at Weather Underground in Ann Arbor, Mich. “I have to say that winter hasn’t really hit yet. Certainly not where I live.”

Comments (55)

1 2
  • pennswoods
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 11:31pm

    At this time In February 2011 here in Pennsylvania I had a mountain of 54 inches of snow beside my drive way. It was almost as bad two years ago at this. We had record cold too. Hurray for a mild winter! I want more!

    Report Post »  
    • SoloPocono
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 2:43pm

      Also in PA, and while I enjoy not having to find and pay someone to shovel; I REALLY could have done WITHOUT the danged bat in my hallway the other night!! I’m moving by the end of the month, thought I’d have PLENTY of time before the bats came back this year!!!

      Report Post »  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 7:49pm

      The Corporation of the United States is heating the Ionisphere to 100 degrees Farenheit using Microwaves.

      They are using the HAARP – High Frequency Active Auroral Reseach Project.
      They also are Spraying Aluminum Oxides and Barium into the Atmosphere claiming that it reflects the sunlight back to space and keeps the earth cool.

      BS !!!!!

      They are slow killing us because we have guns. Our government is a Corporation,. not a Representative Republic.
      The world health organization states that the Earth can only be sustainable with less than 1 billion.
      The great Culling has begun.

      Here is 100 degree upper atmosphere and chemtrails
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSANoDFfO3Y

      Here is America is a Corporation – Allen West:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN0PlOXCJLc

      A confirmation:
      http://www.teamlaw.net/history.htm

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
  • nelsonknew
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 11:21pm

    Alaska and the entire west coast are still FAR below normal.

    Report Post » nelsonknew  
    • dumbgrunt33
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 2:28am

      Uh, did you not read….. Yukon, Alaska had 10 feet MORE than normal….. west coast maybe but NOT Alaska

      Report Post »  
  • Tracy Y. Andersen
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 11:20pm

    I would ask the chemtrails alarmists what proof you have of chemicals falling onto plants, etc. that we then ingest, and how does it affect us?

    Have you (or anyone) collected and analyzed these chemical fallouts?

    Go ahead, you can do it yourself to prove it to the world — lay out a strip of tape, sticky side up (clear strapping tape might be best), let it collect fallout for a day or two, then analyze the particulate collected, and give us the chemical analysis. You might need to send it to a lab that can do ppm or ppb analysis, to get it really accurate.

    But as for me, just guessing, and you saying so, just doesn’t cut it for me.

    Report Post »  
    • stang289
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 11:35pm

      There is plenty of people who have done testing and aluminum is what shows up the most ,

      Report Post » stang289  
    • Biddle
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 11:17am

      everything is safe. Especially the stuff from farms where Purdue, Tyson and many others bred the delicacies we love. Everything is great. Its not about money at all. These people go out of their way to work hard and bring a quality product to the shelves. And they even have some land to sell me! I cant wait. How much would ya like???? (disclaimer: this is not aimed at the hard working farmers who try their hardest to produce a good product)

      Report Post »  
  • Tracy Y. Andersen
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 11:09pm

    Just a comment about contrails/chemtrails. The contrails are condensation of the exhaust, which is primarily H2O and CO2 (water and carbon dioxide). There may be a small percentage of NOx (nitrogen oxides) formed, but that’s all right, too, as all these are natural chemicals. You exhale water vapor and carbon dioxide when you breathe, and nitrogen oxides are fertilizer, needed for plant growth. And the percentage of NOx formed by planes is likely much smaller than the amount formed by lightning strikes, which produce NOx by the tons worldwide.

    As for chemtrails, you produce much more yourself, locally, as you drive around town. Car exhaust is the same as the jet exhaust, only car exhaust is likely much more polluting, due to less efficient and incomplete burning of fuel. Probably more metal pollution from additives, also.

    So, which is worse — you, or that occasional plane overhead?

    Report Post »  
    • stang289
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 11:33pm

      Sure Tracy keep telling lies , as if we arent aware of whats going on around us . how long have you been trolling for the government Tracy ? hows Jay Reynolds and the rest over at contrail science ? Im 52 and I live near Cape Canaveral and work outside all the time , i am quite aware what has been happening around my county and worldwide is geoengineering . Using aircraft is the model for geoengineering . solar radiation management SRM . I have plenty of evidence , plenty of hard copies of evidence , heres one sample http://osdir.com/ml/geoengineering/2011-07/msg00048.html

      Report Post » stang289  
    • blackmoefugga
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 2:03pm

      I just chemtrailed my office…results to follow.

      Report Post » blackmoefugga  
  • unpata
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 10:28pm

    Its global warming for sure! Al Gore will be sure to remind us!

    Report Post » unpata  
  • mbck1491
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 10:19pm

    I wish Obama would shut his mouth.

    Report Post »  
  • lionshield
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 10:08pm

    Oh, it’s just the elite-banker’s controling the weather with their mad-science-weather machine,
    showing-off again. they like to play God !! with weather ,specially,in Tex. causing drought !
    so you will not have any water,. they want you to come crawwing and begging to them for water !!
    When I come back with Jesus,these banksters are going to be the one’s crawwing like snakes that
    they are !

    Report Post » lionshield  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:43pm

      You are 100% correct, brother.
      They can actually steer the Jet-Streams now.

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
  • TROONORTH
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 8:21pm

    The temperatures were in the high 50‘s in Florida today and in the mid 50’s in Ontario! This natural warming of the globe as we move out of the last ‘mini ice age’ is a beautiful thing. If I ever see snow again it will be too soon.

    Report Post » TROONORTH  
  • lukerw
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 8:00pm

    Blame the Obama Emissions!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • paleoman
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 7:53pm

    Its snowing Alaska.

    Report Post »  
  • paleoman
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 7:51pm

    Blame Bush.

    Report Post »  
  • Rob_M
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 7:41pm

    Al gore is preparing a speech as we speak.

    Report Post » Rob_M  
  • WatchOutForTheRINOShills
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 7:30pm

    While I love the thought of no cold (20 years in Florida where “cold” was defined as below 70 degrees), I agree with several of the posts:

    1) chemtrails aka geoengineering – they are screwing our planet and us…LOOK UP!!! The uninformed will say it’s just “contrails” but a normal contrail dissapates after a few minutes. There is no evidence that remains because IT IS WATER VAPOR turned to ice crystals by the cold. The crystals are heavy, they fall into warmer air and melt….Chemtrails linger and spread out. They are FILLED WITH CHEMICALS that fall to the ground, onto our plants, where our children are playing, etc. Research for yourself and understand what they are DOING!! I live in Tennessee and almost every nice day, we start out with a bright blue sky that is quickly turned into a whiteish haze from chemtrails. I have written to the Governor, and every single state legislator and NOTHING!!! These planes are coming from somewhere, and somebody (you and I) are paying millions of dollars for gas, salaries, chemicals, etc. to kill ourselves….

    2) No snow means no melt in the spring means water shortage means food shortage means higher prices means inflation pressures means choosing between food, housing, utilities, medicines, etc. means bad news…

    God, please bless America again…

    Report Post »  
    • Heisenberg
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 8:08pm

      Before you go off on your rants check your facts first bud. We could have 10 ft of snow here in iowa or we could have a winter like this with no snow on the ground. Either way that does NOT effect ground water levels. The ground is frozen and so is the snow on top of it. The snow has to melt before the ground can thaw to absorb water you dope. This ( snow or no snow ) does not change the fact that were in a drought, as if runs off in the spring. Think about what your saying before you say it!

      Report Post » Heisenberg  
    • rolla020980
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 1:43pm

      Wait a sec… normal contrails dissipate after a few seconds? Try a few minutes, which happens. There are nowhere near enough planes to cover the entire ground in haze in a single day. I also do not understand your comment saying that ice would fall, but the chemicals just spread covering the plants. There are plants in the sky? Check your facts before you post your conspiracy theory BS. If there are chemicals covering the area around your home, I would check the local factories before I look at the airplanes.

      Report Post »  
  • stang289
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 7:08pm

    Its because they are manipulating our weather . geoengineering aka chemtrails are everywhere these days . If you think they are normal look at old photos watch a movie from the 80s or early 90s then just compare look up and wake up sheeple http://treasurecoastskywatch.blogspot.com/

    Report Post » stang289  
    • cemerius
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 11:32am

      Collect enough of that alluminum and you can make a new hat……

      Report Post » cemerius  
    • Tracy Y. Andersen
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 12:25pm

      Wow, what a response I got from you, on my two previous posts. All of a sudden I became a “government shill” and so on, when all I was trying to do was make a general comment using physical principles to explain it. Those posts were a “first approximation” to an answer, and further research will likely yield a “second approximation” which will require a “third approximation”, and so on, until the truth of the matter is reached.

      At any rate, thanks for the link you gave, for a start, showing the nature of the debate going on about all this. Gives me reason to research this stuff further, to see just what is going on, if anything. Shrill comments don’t cut it, and reasoned responses on the link you gave showed that aluminum is prevalent in the soil, and aluminum-resistant plants need to be developed, for improved yields. Aluminum from the sky just doesn’t seem to be that common, except in, for example, the haboobs we get here in AZ, that pick up the dust from the ground, and make us exceed the OSHA limits for particulate contamination. (Okay, OSHA, how do we stop haboobs?)

      My description of an experiment to be performed seems to have been exceeded with the use of HEPA filters, but even that experiment was seriously questioned about not following acceptable scientific reporting. Further research needed to see if anyone has done accurate testing, as may be pertinent. Any sites you can direct me to, would be appreciated. Thanks for the discussion.

      Report Post »  
    • Tracy Y. Andersen
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 1:13pm

      Okay, Stang, that link will take quite some time to read through all the links you give there, so I am responding with them unread at the moment. I looked at all of your pretty cloud pictures — what am I supposed to see from them? And may I note — more contrails today than 20-30 years ago, yeah, air travel has increased appreciably over that time. Hence, more contrails per unit time. And all directions — well, where do you want to go? Likely, there is a route from here to there, that goes at an angle to everyone else’s routes.

      A general question — can anyone give air data for all levels, on a regular basis, for temperature, humidity, pressure, ionization (I’ll throw that in fer the funuvit) and all suchlike data, for all of the country, or even one locality, so as to give data that can be used for valid, scientific studies to prove or disprove the contentions made. And keep in mind, this is something that relies on statistical data, not point data, and as such, has need for rigorous control and peer review and analysis. I await the data.

      Report Post »  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 8:07pm

      @Stang

      You and I knew it is for real. It started in 1996.
      I have seen the actual house bill that lists chemtrails.
      It was on a military defense bill pertaining to the starwars program.
      Anyone with half of their brain cells left, can see them spraying more and more everyday.
      “Chembows” are a common occurence.
      These guys are ignorant beyond comprehension, or are Government disinfo shills.
      One or the other, no inbetweens.
      I tell everyone everyday about chemtrails.
      I loathe the global elite with a passion.
      My lifelong goal is to destroy them, and wake the people up.
      I know “Agents” will come. lol. They will not leave.
      You have been warned.

      iii

      I claim all rights reserved under common law – without prejudice – ucc 1-207 / 1-308

      Come, Mofos !!!!!!!

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:11pm

      @TracyAndersen

      You are showing flashes of intelligence and knowledge, therefore you are a government disinformation shill. Anyone with the edification that you display, would know these are not normal Con-Trails. We see the normal con-trails right next to the Chem-trails.
      For a Condensation trail to remain persistent, the temp. would have to remain a constant -40c and 60% relative humidity.
      That is a FACT !!!!
      These chemtrails contain Aluminum Oxides, Barium Salts, Ethylene Dibromide and mycoplasmas.
      mycoplasmas are laboratory-born bio-toxins similar to Agent orange.
      They are also experimenting with the cross-DNA of Humans with Insects, that can get into one’s body, break our genetic codes, and begin a mutation.

      Check any legal dictonary. Humans are Considered MONSTERS because we are not “BLOODLINE”
      of Royalty.
      They are tired of this “All men were created equal” concept.
      They have the Technology to turn you into something sub-human, and I believe they are doing so.

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
  • flatbroke
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 6:47pm

    I am not complaining at all, last winter was the worst we have had in a decade, and now we are being payed back with nice warm weather, so quit yur bitchin people, just enjoy it!

    Report Post » flatbroke  
  • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 6:37pm

    I’m sure the furnace as burned less natural gas than it has in winters past (hoping that didn’t just jinx it). This summer, I plan on redoing the siding on the north and west sides of the house to add a 2″ layer of blue foam board outside of the first layer of sheathing and inside a second layer of sheathing which will be inside a layer of actual Tyvek. Next winter can kiss my arse. -40 °F? I’ll never notice. (Okay, that prolly jinxed it.)

    Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
  • Pug
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 6:27pm

    Jan1973…I wore a sweater to walk to the drs. office because it was 70degrees out. Kids were out riding their new bikes and one man was cutting his grass. the next year we had one of the worse snowstorms the midwest had ever had. I love this winter…it could be like this everyyear for all I care

    Report Post »  
  • gemmeri
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 6:10pm

    Buddy, it’s still cold here & it’s winter. It’s most definitely winter & the last time I checked the calendar days ago it was time for winter. All I care about is whether or not the heat works right now because I am freakin’ cold & it’s winter here. I can see snow on the tops of the mountains around me & that’s good enough for me. Try going outside & hold up a moistened finger. If it gets chilled, it’s cold. If there’s snow anywhere around you, it’s cold. If you’re shivering, it’s cold. If you get frostbite, It’s too cold. Get a heater. Or get a furnace. Come in from outside first & get dressed.

    Report Post »  
  • lstoddard004
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 6:06pm

    I’m sure Global Warming is at fault. Call Al Gore and alert him of the situation! He might be flying in his energy-efficient jet.

    Report Post »  
  • Casca1
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:49pm

    Don’t get the gw nuts riled up. Odd weather, normal weather, any kind of weather is the fault of gw apparently.

    Report Post » Casca1  
  • LadyLibertykicksASS
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:37pm

    Enjoy it…….Cause we will pay for it….No snow in the mountains, means Drought in the summer..Cost of food goes up. Beef prices are sky rocketing from the drought in Texas last summer…. Between the cost of gas and food we will all be struggling financially.!!!

    Report Post »  
    • libtardian-refugee
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:39pm

      We should elect a Republican who will start a war with Iran, That will fix the economy

      Report Post »  
    • Balthazor
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:47pm

      The good news is that this warm weather should keep Obama busy on the golf course instead of destroying our country and our lives.

      Report Post » Balthazor  
  • ElPzee
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:34pm

    Here in North Carolina we haven’t had a winter. Straight from Fall to spring. global warming exists, it’s happening, not man-made though

    Report Post » ElPzee  
  • blazingaway
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:27pm

    Anyone know how the polar bears are doing? Can we finally stop hearing how they are all perishing from a lack of cold weather and snow.

    Report Post » blazingaway  
  • TEARS FOR AMERICA
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:19pm

    It was so cold last year our icicles had icicles…I am thankful for the new cycle of warmth!

    Report Post » TEARS FOR AMERICA  
  • righthanddrive
    Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:12pm

    Hey NY municipal golf authorities – pay attention. Folks in Ohio are playing golf and in plus fours to boot! So lets go!

    Report Post »  
    • libtardian-refugee
      Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:37pm

      You know you’re screwed when your town has “municipal golf authorities” Sounds like a high priority for a bankrupt city

      Report Post »  
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