Contributing factors for the lack of snow in the winter of 2011-2012

These images show the difference in snow coverage in North America between this winter and last winter.  Two contributing factors for the lack of snow in the winter of 2011-2012 were the positive phase of the Arctic Oscillation (AO)  and the La Nina event.   During La Nina systems carrying moisture tend to develop less frequently. The diagram of the (AO) shows that during a positive phase, cold air is trapped in its source region over the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere. This blocking supports and strengthens the La Nina.  In addition during positive phases of the Arctic Oscillation the jet stream takes a more northern course steering snowstorms towards Alaska.

Even with all of this, I am still holding on to hope for a decent Easter snowfall in New England.  We are not going to hike the Teardrop this weekend, but still plan on hitting the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Winter 2011-2012 Image 3/5/12

                                                                        

Winter 2010-2011 Image 3/3/11

                           Postive on the left (winter  2011-12 )                      Negative on the right

Arctic Oscillation current winter 2011-12

Arctic Oscillation last winter 2010-11

Ahead of Schedule

The long term forecast is predicting above average temperatures for the North Country.  Luckily my wife Julie and I went out skiing last weekend.  These photos are from Saturday 3/10/12.  It snowed the Friday night before; this fresh snow added to the coverage. 

Spring has arrived about 4-6 weeks ahead of schedule.  Many of the snowfields of Vermont and New Hampshire are suffering because of the heat pump associated with a persistent southerly flow.  This year the spring hike in Tuckerman Ravine will more than likely require you to hike out rather than ski out.  I am looking forward to possibly hiking up and then skiing the Teardrop trail on 3/24/12. This trail is on the western side of Mt. Mansfield and was cut by the CCC in 1937.

This is an image from the 1930's of the CCC crew that cut the first trails on Mt. Mansfeild.(Teardrop, Nosedive, Bruce Trails)  They are pictured in front of their Ranch Camp.

National Weather Service Visit

I am taking an Earth’s Climate System course through the American Meteorological Society SUNY Brockport.  On Wednesday evening, participants in the course had a meeting at the National Weather Service Office in Mt. Holly N.J.  The headquarters for the NWS serving the Philadelphia area, southeastern New Jersey, and northern portions of Delaware and Maryland.  It is the second time I have had the opportunity to visit the forecast office and after each visit I am more excited to teach about the local weather and climate.

Our next meeting is to be held at CBS 3 on April 24, 2012 in Philadelphia.  We will sit in on the evening news broadcast.  Our focus is the weather report provided by Kathy Orr. After the news broadcast we are permitted to pretend we are weather broadcasters.  It is cool to work the green screen, you just have to make sure you do not wear green, or that portion shows up blank on the monitor.  This Climate course is one of a kind and it provides many connections to my teaching.  Plus it is free and upon completion you earn 3 graduate credits.