MUWIC
Newsletter - April 2003
(Issued: April 1, 2003)
Millersville University Weather Information Center (MUWIC) Eric J. Horst, Director
************************************************************************ LEAD STORY: “3rd Snowiest Winter
on Record”
Who says it doesn’t snow like it used to? This winter’s 61.2 inches of total snowfall exceeds the seasonal snowfall of all but two winters in the last 76 years. Local snowfall records date back to the winter of 1926-27, and since then only 1995-96 and 1960-61 had more snow with 72 and 63 inches falling, respectively. The long-term seasonal snowfall average is 25 inches. This winter was also a standout in terms of unseasonably cold temperature. For the three-month “meteorological winter” of December through February, the average temperature anomaly was –4.8 degrees. This ranks as the 6th coldest winter on record in the Lancaster area. One more interesting aspect to this winter was the high frequency of snowy days. Twenty-four different “snow events” produced measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more) here at the Millersville University Weather Center. The first such event occurred on the evening of November 26th, while the most recent snowfall dusted the county on March 30th. So, if you feel like it’s been a long winter…you are right! Top Five Seasonal Snowfall: 1. 1995-96: 72 inches, 2. 1960-61: 63 inches, 3. 2002-03: 61.2 inches, 4. 1957-58: 58.1 inches, 5. 1963-64: 58 inches. Top Six Coldest Winters (degrees F below normal): 1. 1935-36: -7.0F, 2. 1917-18: -5.8F, 3. 1962-63: -5.5F, 4. 1993-94: -5.4F, 5. 1976-77: -5.1F, 6. 2002-03: -4.8F. ************************************************************************ EVENT OF THE MONTH
This month’s main event was not a storm, but instead a
pattern change. After a long unseasonably cold and snowy winter, the atmosphere
jumped into a completely different pattern around mid-month bringing an abrupt
end to the winter season. This pattern change shows up nicely in our
climatological records: March 1 - 14 was extremely cold with an average
temperature for the period about 6.7 degrees below normal, whereas the period
of March 15 - 29 averaging 6.6 degrees above normal. In aggregate, the month
concluded "near normal", despite the fact that March 2003 was anything
but normal! (Thus, the tricky nature of interpreting climatological data.) ************************************************************************ MARCH CLIMATOLOGY
Average High Temp: 51.4 F Average Low Temp: 30.0 F Average Monthly Temp: 40.7 F (Departure from Normal: -0.7 F)
Snowfall: 0.3 inches (Departure from Normal: -3.4 in.) Precipitation: 2.91 inches (Departure from Normal: -0.47) Annual Precipitation: 9.37 inches (Departure from Normal: +0.51) ************************************************************************ APRIL NORMALS, RECORDS & FACTS
Normal high/low temperatures range from 59/37 on April 1st to 70/44 by month's end. The record high for April is 95 degrees (on 4/18/76) and the record low is 11 F (on 4/1/23). Normal liquid precipitation (rain and melted snow) is 3.47 inches. Measurable snow falls in April on an average of once every five years. The rainiest April on record occurred in 1983 (9.14 inches) while the driest April was just two years later (0.39 inches in 1985). ************************************************************************ APRIL OUTLOOK
April is typically the most changeable month, and this year won’t be any different. The opening days of April will provide a preview of what to expect in the weeks to come. That is, today (April 1st) will be cloudy and cool, whereas tomorrow afternoon it will be sunny and nearly 70 degrees! This seesaw temperature pattern will be the hallmark of the weather through at least mid-month. Such dramatic temperature swings present a favorable environment for storm formation. Therefore, I expect that a couple well-developed low pressure systems will track from the Plains to the Great Lakes and Northeast in the weeks to come. Each of these systems can give us a period of soaking rain and, possibly, a little wet snow (more likely in the mountains) through about April 15th. Beyond that, the common Spring showers and thunderstorms will rule. I expect April will conclude with monthly precipitation and temperatures averaging out to be near normal. COPYRIGHT 2003 Millersville University Published monthly by the Millersville University Weather Information Center. Subscribe on our homepage at www.atmos.millersville.edu/~wic ************************************************************************ *** Bookmark our web site at: www.atmos.millersville.edu/~wic *** ************************************************************************ |