Sunday, March 18, 2018

WHEN DOES MY SNOW GO AWAY?

    John from John's Island asked an innocent question the other day. He wanted to know when my snow goes away. Well that's a very complicated answer.

     Weather and climate are extremely variable here. We sometimes have early spring and sometimes late spring. In other words there are years that the snow disappears early in March and sometimes it's not until early April when snow disappears.  Now complicating that is the snow storms we can get after the  winter snow has melted. we usually get most of our snow in March. In the last two days we've had 10-12 cm (5 in )m of snow. Our winter snow has not started to melt. So I would predict a late spring this year.

     We can get snow storms in May and even June. However in may and June our crops and plants are well established. We grow plants that are hardy and suited for this climate zone.

    Now for statistics for this date:

     Record low  -27.5 C (-30 F)    2002
     Record high  14 C (58 F)       1988
     Ave. high 4 C (40 F)
     Ave low -9 C 95F)
     Record snow 25.7 cm (11 in.)     2006
     sunrise 7:42 AM
     Sunset 7:44 PM

    So you see that with these conditions our spring can be quite variable.


       
      My daughter on June 8 1986. She was 15 and this was her sense of humor. My apologies for the poor photo quality . 

33 comments:

  1. Around here in northern Wisconsin, I always say that snowfall is not finished until you see snow on crocus blossoms.

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    1. Thanks for visiting Hiawatha House. More than crocuses would be covered by snow here.

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  2. I guess the first day of spring means nothing to you.

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    1. The first day of spring on the calendar is a bit of a joke.

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  3. Ha, ha, I like your daughter's humour.

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    1. I can't remember how long she stayed out but probably not long.

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  4. I hear you, Red. Our record low today was -21, and high, 13 C.!
    Yesterday, it was -17 C. in the morning.
    I love the photo!!!!

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    1. That's what you'd call a wild variation.

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  5. It seems this winter never ends here too. We had the coldest March 17 ever, below zero wich is very unusual for us. Another Siberian cold come our way. Hope Mr. Putin is ready now with cold sending our way.

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    1. Records have to be set once in a while. that's not a pleasant record to set.

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  6. My wife grew up in Minnesota, sounds very similar to what she was saying

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    1. Minnesota can be brutal. It's deep in the interior of the continent.

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  7. That's MY question, too! It's interesting that you get most of your snow in March. I'm always thinking in March that winter is on its way out. But this year it's certainly thrown us a curve ball!

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    1. Most times in March our winter is on the way out but we can get those monster snow storms.

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  8. It is the same here. Unpredictable. We are in the second half of March and it still looks a lot like winter outside. Like every year, we're never sure exactly when spring will arrive and stay put!

    That is a cool photo of your daughter. A good memory!

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    1. When the cool air of winter and the warmer air of spring mix , weather can be variable.

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  9. You sure do have a well developed sense of humor, Red. -:)

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    1. Well , thank you. I look on the brighter side of things.

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  10. We certainly get snowfalls in April. Our snow melt tends to start showing itself on slopes with a lot of southern and western exposure, but most of our snow is still on the ground.

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    1. Yes, sheltered sunny spots are the first to thaw.

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  11. It was over 14c here just days before our last snow.

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    1. 14 is enough to warm the ground a little so snow melts faster when it's on warmer ground.

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  12. Oh Red, I can't help but think about you and the weather there, when I complain about a little snow and freezing weather in March here in NC. It has been an unusual winter and we could get a little snow here this week says the weatherman, and below normal temperatures all week.

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    1. It's all relative. I don't like hot weather!!!

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  13. I never expect "no more snow" until June! Even then, if you go far enough in the woods, some years there will still be snow on the ground.

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    1. When I was in northern Quebec, I remember finding a snowbank in August.

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  14. Hardly any snow here but very cold temps. Only two years ago it was a lot warmer and we were getting our garden ready. Not this year. :(

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    1. Most areas seem to have lower than average temperatures this year.

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  15. I am so hoping the snow departs as soon as possible.

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    1. Well, here it's going to take it's sweet time.

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  16. Hi Red, Wow, I love this post. Thanks for answering my question! Your daughter has a great sense of humor! I can see where she got it! Have a great week ahead! John

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  17. If it rains ours will go fast, but we still have a bunch and supposed to get more in the next few days. Your snow may be gone before mine:)

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  18. Our Minnesota motto is "if you don't like the weather today wait till tomorrow."

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