2012 Top 5 Snow-Starved Cities

luvski

原文：http://www.weather.com/outlook/w ... d_2012-01-11?page=6

没想到今年Lake Tahoe这么惨， 那谁谁， 你是去年去那里出差的吧？太运气了。

#5: Salt Lake City, UT

  Snow Stats (through Jan. 10, 2012)

Snowfall	9.5"
Average-to-date	26.6"
Snow deficit	-17.1"
% of typical snow season remaining	53%

  

Photo: Kevin Kay

  While parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and even West Texas have been hit by repeated bouts of snow this season, the Salt Lake Valley and adjacent Wasatch Mountains have been left wanting.

Read article: West Texas: Snow Capital?

That means the mountain snowpack is also suffering a bit, running only 40-50% of average for this time of year.

Check ski conditions: Utah

December and January are the two snowiest months, on average, in Salt Lake City. However, February is not far behind (another 10-11", on average). Also, we're only roughly halfway through a "typical snow season", so there's plenty of time to make up this deficit.

luvski

#4: Fargo, ND

  Snow Stats (through Jan. 10, 2012)

Snowfall	3.9"
Average-to-date	23.8"
Snow deficit	-19.9"
% of typical snow season remaining	54%

  

The stunning contrast in snow cover in Fargo, N.D.                               Photos: Inforum.com

By January 10, 2011...Fargo had already amassed 50.7" of snow! This year, they're struggling for any snow.

It was the first "brown Christmas" for the Red River Valley since 2006. In fact, the period from Nov. 1 through Jan. 7 was the warmest such period on record in Fargo, dating to 1850. The incredible contrast photo above, courtesy of inforum.com, says it all.

This snow drought, if it continues, may be a good thing in one respect. One major component to the spring flood threat is meltwater from snowpack. Reduced snowpack lessens the threat.

Of course, the amount of spring precipitation also plays a large role in the magnitude/extent of spring flooding. Fargo sees a small secondary peak in average snowfall in March, with additional snow possible into April.

So, for now, enjoy the break from shoveling, not to mention the relatively good economy!

luvski

#3: Milwaukee, WI

  Snow Stats (through Jan. 10, 2012)

Snowfall	1.7"
Average-to-date	18.0"
Snow deficit	-16.3"
% of typical snow season remaining	64%

  

Bare ground has been common in Milwaukee this winter.                               Photo: iWitnessWeather contributor katkra_2

We're all familiar with the term "January thaw", the mild spell purportedly occurring each year, typically in late January in parts of the country. Then again, to have a "thaw", that would imply the area had been cold and/or snowy to begin with.

Not so in "Brew City" this season, so far. Through January 9, this was the least snowy start to a season in Milwaukee since 1907. That said, the 2001-2002 season started out with only 2.6" of snow. Based on this, we ranked Milwaukee ahead of Fargo in our list, despite the smaller snowfall deficit.

Only 6" of snow had fallen this season through Jan. 10 in Green Bay, and down the road in Chicago, a paltry 1.9" of snow had piled up this season. Only three other seasons (most recently 2002) had measured less snow at this point in the Windy City.

As you can see above, roughly two-thirds of Milwaukee's seasonal snow falls after Jan. 10. Look back no further than the "Groundhog blizzard" last season, which dumped 19.8" of snow over a 3-day period from Jan. 31 - Feb. 2.

Recap, video, photos: "Groundhog blizzard" 2011

At least one Wisconsinite is looking forward to more snow, TWC Facebook fan (become a fan) Diane Krueger...

               

luvski

#2: Buffalo, NY

  Snow Stats (through Jan. 10, 2012)

Snowfall	5.5"
Average-to-date	45.3"
Snow deficit	-39.8"
% of typical snow season remaining	53%

  

The extent of snowfall so far for some in western New York (Barker, NY).                               Photo: iWitnessWeather contributor Ashleyb13

Buffalo...wings, Bills football, Sabres hockey, and lake-effect snow. In 15 seconds, those are the four things I associate with the "City of Good Neighbors". This season, to butcher a famous Meat Loaf song..."three out of four ain't bad".


The warmth dominating the East has taken lake-effect snow largely off the table so far. When you're being "outsnowed" by places in West Texas, you know you're in a "snow drought".

Through Christmas, it was the least snowy start to the season on record in Buffalo (3") and nearby Rochester, N.Y. (2.5") dating back to 1884-1885! You had to go to the hilltops of southwest New York to see any Christmas snow cover.

TWC Facebook fan (become a fan) Sue Lewis knows not to "count her chickens"...

      
Indeed, over half the snow season remains. At least a foot of snow typically blankets the ground in Buffalo in both February and March.

Joining in the snowless category are locations such as New York City (only third snowless December in 140 years), Boston and Hartford (both tied least snowy December with only a trace).

Certainly frustrating if you're a "snowhound" (informal, in-house term for a fan of snowstorms).  However, the Northeast has dodged the type of crippling snowstorms of last season, including the post-Christmas blizzard,  the record snowstorm in Hartford, or thelate January "thundersnow" storm.

luvski

#1: South Lake Tahoe, CA (Sierra)

  Snow Stats (through Jan. 10, 2012)

Snowfall	Trace
Average-to-date	57.5"
Snow deficit	-57.5"
% of typical snow season remaining	60%

  

Paltry Sierra snowpack (left) and photo from Lake Tahoe, looking toward relatively snowless peaks.                               Credits: NOAA/NOHRSC, iWitnessWeather contributor Tahoe Bobsledbob

One of TWC's Twitter followers (follow us) nailed our question of the day...

   

       The Weather Channel

• ✔
  

  @weatherchannel     
11 Jan 12
   

Do you live in the most #snow starved location in the U.S.?  Tweet us your nomination, with pictures, if you'd like.  We may use your tweet.

  
      

  

      Bob Harmon @nvgrowler   
   

@weatherchannel Have you guys checked Lake Tahoe/Sierra? Talk about snow-starved. Looks like we'll be taking short showers this summer!

  
      
11 Jan 12    

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Put simply, the lack of snowfall in the Sierra this winter has been stunning. As of this writing, snowpack in the Sierra was a mere 8-13% of average for mid-January.

According to Rob Katz, chief executive of Vail Resorts, Inc., operator of the Tahoe resorts of Heavenly and North Star, for the first time since the last 1800s it did not snow at all in the Tahoe region in December!

On January 5, Homewood Mountain Resort announced it would be closed Mondays through Thursdays "until snow conditions permit full operations or further notice."

Check ski conditions: California | Nevada
   
With that said, the season is far from a loss. Climatologically speaking, the snowiest months, March (36.2") and February (27.1") lie ahead.

The Sierra are notorious for being buried under feet of snow from one single storm, or have a Pacific plume of moisture wring out heavy snow for days.

Case in point, last March one of those "Pacific plumes" pummeled the Sierra. (see photos) An incredible 14.5 feet of snow (174") was measured at Kirkwood over 7 days. This epic event sent Squaw Valley to a record snow season (510" at base, 810" at High Camp).

luvski

没有最惨， 只有更惨。 原来以为只有咱们这里闹雪饥慌。

几亩瓜

滴雪未进是什么滋味.....

snow

虽然我们这里一月的温度总创新高，可山里还总有新雪。
我感觉很幸运呀!
刚从Fernie滑雪回来的同事说，那里base lodge 一点雪都无呀！真是到处贫血

xinxinqi

buffalo往年有那么多雪吗?不相信.

StormRider

snow 发表于 2012-1-12 14:53
虽然我们这里一月的温度总创新高，可山里还总有新雪。
我感觉很幸运呀!
刚从Fernie滑雪回来的同事说，那里b ...

大白如何？我刚买了机票， 订了酒店，就差买雪票和酱油了