How would you rate the 2020-21 meteorological winter at your location (DJF)?
I give it an overall grade of D for my location (Raleigh). Despite being the coldest winter at RDU since 2014-15 (and actually RDU's first cooler than normal winter since then!), snowfall ended up below average at only 1.6". This was RDU's least snowy winter since 2016-17, but coldest since 2014-15. Raleigh still fared better than areas like Greensboro, Charlotte, and Atlanta. GSP actually finished with 0.2" more snowfall than RDU. Despite being below normal overall, that was more a result of a lack of much above normal days (until very late February) rather than extreme cold (which this winter lacked here, just like last winter). RDU continues its sub-20F temperature drought as well, which began in late January 2019. Unlike the past two winters, there were a few novelty snow/sleet events that did not result in accumulation.
December wasn't terrible. Despite not having any measurable snow, I did get to see two separate brief periods of non-accumulating snow, including early Christmas morning! It's probably the closest you'll get to a white Christmas around here (and some areas west of the Apps did see some light accumulations). January was...fairly typical, with no temperature extremes. We got our only measurable snow early on January 28, about an inch and a half (1.6" at RDU) which melted very quickly. February was painful. Watching parts of Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and even Louisiana get crushed with historic snowfall, Raleigh finished with absolutely zero measurable snow. I would rate this month a "Z" if I could. It was actually a colder than normal month too!
The chance for snow isn't completely over yet, but meteorological winter pretty much is. How do you rate this winter?
I give it an overall grade of D for my location (Raleigh). Despite being the coldest winter at RDU since 2014-15 (and actually RDU's first cooler than normal winter since then!), snowfall ended up below average at only 1.6". This was RDU's least snowy winter since 2016-17, but coldest since 2014-15. Raleigh still fared better than areas like Greensboro, Charlotte, and Atlanta. GSP actually finished with 0.2" more snowfall than RDU. Despite being below normal overall, that was more a result of a lack of much above normal days (until very late February) rather than extreme cold (which this winter lacked here, just like last winter). RDU continues its sub-20F temperature drought as well, which began in late January 2019. Unlike the past two winters, there were a few novelty snow/sleet events that did not result in accumulation.
December wasn't terrible. Despite not having any measurable snow, I did get to see two separate brief periods of non-accumulating snow, including early Christmas morning! It's probably the closest you'll get to a white Christmas around here (and some areas west of the Apps did see some light accumulations). January was...fairly typical, with no temperature extremes. We got our only measurable snow early on January 28, about an inch and a half (1.6" at RDU) which melted very quickly. February was painful. Watching parts of Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and even Louisiana get crushed with historic snowfall, Raleigh finished with absolutely zero measurable snow. I would rate this month a "Z" if I could. It was actually a colder than normal month too!
The chance for snow isn't completely over yet, but meteorological winter pretty much is. How do you rate this winter?