How Long Is Your Typical Winter?

[Machka]

How long is your typical winter?

Roughly when do you get your first significant snowfall ... the one that accumulates on the ground and lasts a while, not just a flurry? When do the temperatures start dipping below freezing overnight ... and during the day?

And roughly when is all, or almost all, the snow melted? When do your temperatures consistantly reach highs above freezing during the day ... or night?


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Looking at the local weather information ....

I'd have to say that winter strikes here somewhere around mid-late October. That's when the snow usually starts, and the temperature drops. And it appears that early-mid April is when to expect things to start warming up, although there can still be snow into May. So that's what ... about ... 5.5 months, maybe a bit more.


And that means there is still a good 6 weeks or so of winter. <<sigh>>

[Rotten Bastard]

Here in the Washington DC area it's relatively short and easy. It usually starts cooling down in mid-November (drops to the high 30s F) and then stays there until about late February, early March. We don't often get much significant snowfall, maybe a total of 12 inches all winter, and it usually doesn't hit until mid- to late December. Usually all traces of snow are gone by the end of March, if not sooner.

I think the average daytime temps in January and February are in the 40s F, and nighttime gets to the low 30s. We usually have a streak of about 2-3 weeks when it seems to stay in the 20s at night. The last couple of weeks have seen daytime temps in the 20s and night time temps in the single digits.

Of course, this winter's been a real fluke. It was like 60-70F in on January 20 and winter didn't launch its first counterattack until late January.


[Off Topic] You know, since this is the winter forum I thought I'd add that a lot of non-cycling people don't seem to understand why people like us bike through the cold. A friend of mine said to me, 'Why don't you just drive? It's a lot warmer in a car.' He just doesn't get that continuing to ride, no matter how bad the weather, really helps the winter go by faster. [/Off Topic]

[cyclezealot]

Remember once going to DC from Detroit about April 1. In Detroit it was sub zero and blizzards in the daytime with a high near 20. In DC we were in shorts and the convertibles were out. Yet, come summer, DC is way too hot for riding for at least two months, if not three. We we are presently residing, pretty good riding. Maybe 4 weeks with nite temps about 35 and day temps about 55. It's nearly March 1 and the flies are out.

[Cosmoline]

At least six months of snow and ice.

[tsl]

The old joke around here was that we had four seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and July. I remember snow as early as mid-September and as late as early May. Snow tires were a necessity from the end of October through the end of April.

That's slowly changed. For a while we went through a period where Almost Winter and Still Winter were just as dismal as Winter, but with rain instead of snow. For the past few years we've had actual Autumns and Springs. Winters have become milder too. Interestingly, Summers have also mellowed somewhat, even as they creep into June and August.

[tsl]

[Off Topic] You know, since this is the winter forum I thought I'd add that a lot of non-cycling people don't seem to understand why people like us bike through the cold. A friend of mine said to me, 'Why don't you just drive? It's a lot warmer in a car.' He just doesn't get that continuing to ride, no matter how bad the weather, really helps the winter go by faster. [/Off Topic]

I answer the "Aren't you cold?" question by saying, "It's not like I'm just sitting there doing nothing, like you would sitting in a car or waiting for a bus. I make my own heat. I'm usually sweating and pulling off layers because I've listened to people like you instead of dressing appropriately. If I ever do get cold, I just pedal harder."

[crtreedude]

Zero Days

[Portis]

True winter really starts here about with the calendar, around mid to late December. That is when it starts to get truly cold and the overnight lows really start to dip. I don't consider it winter here until lows are in the teens.

Then overnight lows start to improve around this time of year. Last night's low was 45 F. I am mainly concerned with overnight lows because i am an early morning rider. Winter is almost over here although they are calling for snow this weekend. It won't last long if it does.

[divineAndbright]

Normally it will start snowing sometime in November and starts warming up going into April, like Machka said.

I usually can't remember specifics too well, but I have some photos - in 2005 April 11th the snow was pretty much gone, and I have a picture of myself outside in a t-shirt so I figure it had to be pretty warm. I also came across one from march 27th last year, only snow where it had been piled up remained, and im wearing a t-shirt, again.

This year we barely got any snow till January. Not much snow this year, usually the snow banks at this time of year are full grown man height - they've been ankle-knee deep this year, makes me worry since the winter started late, that it will end late too (thats a very depressing thought!).

[ghettocruiser]

The lame slushy part is too long.

The good snowy part is never long enough.

[CastIron]

Way too long.

[yukon biker]

very, veryyy long 60.o north latitude

[Rotten Bastard]

I answer the "Aren't you cold?" question by saying, "It's not like I'm just sitting there doing nothing, like you would sitting in a car or waiting for a bus. I make my own heat. I'm usually sweating and pulling off layers because I've listened to people like you instead of dressing appropriately. If I ever do get cold, I just pedal harder." I've tried explaining that to them too, but they just don't believe me and keep calling me crazy (even though it doesn't really get all that cold around here).

Civilians. They'll never get it :p :D

[RomSpaceKnight]

SW Ontario. Mid December to mid March.

[rousseau]

SW Ontario. Mid December to mid March.
What he said. Where in "Canada" do you live, Machka?

[bloodhound]

I heard we had one here during a freak weather changing thingy back in the 1800's...

... but no, nothing recently :D

I do love Hawaii!!!

[Machka]

What he said. Where in "Canada" do you live, Machka?

Alberta, for the past 2 years. Manitoba, for 13 years before that. Numerous places all over western Canada before that. :)

[2manybikes]

And that means there is still a good 6 weeks or so of winter. <<sigh>>


Did you have to bring that up? :(


:D :D

[Ernesto Schwein]

entirely too long (N 64.8)

The geese generally arrive in the second week of April, often to still find snow on the ground. Winter really starts in October but sometimes September. I seem to be one of the handful of people in the world pulling for global warming.

[will1047]

Are winters usually start in late December early January but that is including snow it starts getting below freezing in early November. And then the snow usually starts to melt and it starts to warm up sometime during march.

[kuan]

Temps drop below freezing here in late October. Ski season generally starts in early November with limited skiing and lasts all the way until the mid March.

[ken cummings]

Rain at intervals from late October / mid November to April/May. Frost on roofs November to March/April. An inch of snow maybe once every 100 years.

[patc]

Ottawa saw the first harbinger of spring today: they started blasting the ice on the Rideau river.

[noisebeam]

Zero by snowfall definition (although this year winter was one day long)

By temp definition we typically have a 2-3 winters lasting 1-3 days each

Al

[kpumpy]

30 inches of snow on the ground and it's March 2.

Guess you can see how long the winter will be here.

[mattyknacks]

Hmmm.., I was gonna say something funny, but I came to my senses.

[Ritehsedad]

Actually, here in Maine we look at it differently...Summer is July 4th.

[CdCf]

It all depends on how you define Winter.

For me, I'd say it's when temps are regularly around or below freezing, and when snow can be expected fairly regularly.

Where I live, that usually happens between mid December and early March. So, almost three months here.