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Category Archives: Seasons
When does spring begin?
Spring marks the transition from winter to summer. Meteorologists often define the three months of spring as March through May. By that definition, spring would begin on March 1.
We might also define spring as the day on which, if there is precipitation, it is more likely to be in the form of rain than snow. Continue reading
Are there different types of snowfall?
While forecasts of snowfall have improved, they remain a challenge for even the best forecaster. Heavy snow often occurs in narrow bands and the exact location and orientation of those bands can be hard to predict.
Winter weather can be life-threatening, and under hazardous conditions the National Weather Service issues weather watches, warnings and advisories. Continue reading
How is the cold weather affecting citrus crops?
Last week was one of the coldest of the season in the southeast United States and such events have been known to present a substantial threat to the citrus industry in Florida.
The problem is that when the temperature gets below freezing, the fruit itself can freeze, rendering it substantially less valuable to the market. Continue reading
How severe has this winter been?
Last year we experienced a persistently cold winter (December-January-February) that ended up being the coldest since 1979.
This year has been different. The Midwest Regional Climate Center is experimenting with what they are calling the Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI), which incorporates temperature, snowfall and snow depth to rate the severity of winter. Continue reading
Is the ground temperature changing?
First, let’s consider air temperature.
The Wisconsin Initiative for Climate Change Impacts, or WICCI, analyzed data from 1950 to 2006, a 57-year period. Wisconsin has warmed during this period.
The observed warming since 1950 has been greatest in winter, with an average increase of 2.5 degrees across Wisconsin. Winter temperatures in northwestern Wisconsin have increased by 3.5 to 4.5 degrees. Continue reading
