What weather will this winter bring?

 

 

By: Peter Lewis

 

 

 

Mid October this year saw unusually cold weather and some dreary days of rain. With Daylight Saving Time pushing the clocks back an hour, we were not just reminded of the approaching holidays, but that winter was close at hand.  Most people wonder what each winter will bring; in this case, snow, and how much will fall. The past three years were very different than what  typically occurs. The 2010-2011 school year had a massive fourteen snow days throughout a winter that became an unbelievable nuisance.  The 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years, however, saw a reasonable amount of less than five snow days in each year. The question now becomes, what does the 2013-2014 winter hold for the Fox C-6 District? 

Many sources have been studying the weather patterns and have made their predictions for what is in store from now until the end of winter.  The most notable of these, The Farmer’s Almanac, which is usually a very reliable source, predicts the Midwest will have colder temperatures than usual, with the coldest periods from late December to late January.  While the Almanac was very accurate in predicting rain and cold to start out November, its prediction of flurries fell flat in our area, but was very accurate up north in Iowa.  Its next predicted time frame for snow is late December, mid- January, and throughout February; as for how much snow could fall, the Almanac suggests Jefferson County will receive above normal snowfall in this time period.  Throughout the United States’ history, the Almanac has been very reliable and surprisingly accurate at times; from this we can say five snow days may be a lock at this point.  However, the Almanac isn’t the only source making predictions. There are others that offer even bigger predictions for the fast approaching winter. 

The National Weather Service and NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,  have agreed with the Almanac, saying we should expect below or normal temperatures and possible above normal precipitation.  Live Weather’s Meteorologist, Rob Guarino, says computer models predict El Nino, a reoccurring weather event, will come to the St. Louis area and that has the possibility of causing temperatures being slightly below normal, more rain than snow most times, but an increased chance of winter storms.  February has a chance to have a storm dump eight inches of snow and this winter could produce more ice than normal.  Like the Almanac, Live Weather agrees that February will be the snowiest month this year.  The Weather Centre has predicted this winter will put the St. Louis area on the border of above normal and high threat of a blizzard forming, as well as frigid temperature predictions, above normal precipitation, and snowy weather likely to occur. This is based on multiple studies, past history, and the current weather occurrences going on now and from the past few months. 

From what others in the field are saying, this coming winter looks promising if you like snow days.  However, always be aware that snow days are no longer built in to the Fox C-6 schedule, so it’s alright to hope for some, but not too much, if you want to get out of school before June.