Monday, August 3, 2009

Your Comments On Environmental Signs, New Poll & More

I sure enjoyed seeing all your comments to my last blog entitled seeing anything unusual?

It has been a very different summer for many parts of the country. Some have been extremely hot and dry, others have been very cool and wet.

Is that so uncommon? No...not really. But what has been a little of out the "normal" in terms of climate values is just how persistent some of the recent weather patterns have been -- stretching on for not just days...but weeks.

As of last count there were 8 new comnments to the blog and many of you are seeing things in your areas that are different or atypical for this time of year concerning both vegetation and the behavior of animals.

I forgot to mention this in my blog, but here in Colorado, we have seen a lot of bear activity in recent days.

That was also mentioned by observers in Washington, Maine and Georgia.

Whatever the future has in store with regards to weather, I know it will be exciting, even if we aren't facing a long and cold winter ahead.

For those of you who like to read weather and climate related articles, I found this one today about climate change and the state of California. Click here to read.

Let's wrap up our Wisconsin weather chat series with snow.

I think many people associate the name Wisconsin with cold and snow, since we often see this on national television when the Packers play at home. I think that is most people's perception of Wisconsin during the winter months.

Annual average snowfall varies from a low of 30 inches in Beloit (south-central Wisconsin) to a high of over 100 inches along the western slope of the Gogebic Range of Iron County in northern Wisconsin.

In addition to the terrain influence, northern Wisconsin also can see a heavy influence off of the warmer waters of Lake Superior during the cold season.

Snow can be on the ground anywhere from 80 to 90 days of the year in southern Wisconsin to nearly 150 days up north.

The snow helps act as an insulator for grasses, alfalfa, autumn seeded grains and other vegetation.

Most all bodies of water (lakes, rivers and streams) freeze during the winter months. This process usually starts in late November and lasts through much of March. Sometimes even later during really cold winters.

Here are some fun snowfall extremes for the state of Wisconsin...

  • Greatest daily total 26.0 in. Neillsville, Clark County -- December 27, 1904
  • Greastest monthly total 103.5 in. Hurley, Iron County -- January 1997
  • Greatest seasonal total 277.0 in. Hurley, Iron County -- 1996-1997
  • Greatest single storm 31.0 in. Superior, Douglas County -- Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 1991
  • Greatest annual average 137.5 in. Gurney, Iron County -- 30 season average (1961-90)
  • 2 comments:

    1. Speaking of WI Winters, and snowfall, if anyone is curious of Oshkosh, WI Winter weather and climate... a hand-full of information can be found here , under the "Winter History" section.

      Chris, now that we're back from the UP, there are plenty of signs of an early Fall around Oshkosh. Mainly I see it within the trees as single branches are starting to change color. On my way to work today I saw an entire tree starting to change colors. As far as birds and wildlife go, I haven't noticed anything, but for me that isn't as easily distinguished.

      A long and cold Winter... ??? I doubt that will transpire.

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    2. Besides the wetter and cooler summer than the past couple of years, August has seen at least 3 foggy mornings. Someone told me one time that the number of foggy mornings in Aug determines the number of big snows we will have this winter. ??? Who knows ???
      A couple of years ago, two of my sour cherry trees lost their leaves in mid summer, then bloomed again in late Aug. I removed them last year, though, to prevent overcrowding w/the apple trees.

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