Pretty White Christmas After All

Once again Mother Nature showed who is boss. For all those changes to the Christmas Day Forecast, we still could not get it right. Even though, for the first time in 5 years, southern New England had a brown Christmas, snow came down heavier than expected in Northern New England. Most credit goes to the Arctic High Pressure that arrived in Maine on December 24th. Check out the low temperature Christmas Morning.
Christmas 2011 Cold.jpg

Even as my Dad cooked up our Family Breakfast on Cape Cod, watching the temperature race from 22 degrees at sunrise to 36 by 10 am, I still could not tell my family what was going to happen. Sunshine disappeared behind a deck of Alto Cumulus, then the sky turned Battleship Gray. As the temperature reached 40 by the time we were done opening presents at noon, I figured if anything, we would get wet not white. But then it Happened, A burst of rain changed to snow and the ground was briefly coated white. A cheap Christmas Thrill, for it only lasted a few minutes. My brother took this photo at 1 pm in Harwich.
Harwich Christmas Snow 2011.JPG

Warm air form the west crashing into the Arctic Chill is why we had Cape Cod snow. The air above the ground was still cold enough to dynamically cool the lowest level as convective burst produced this midday snow shower.

In northern New England we had both a warm front, then an upper low, producing two bursts of accumulating snow, one during the day, another at night.
Most ski areas saw a good 4" of Christmas snow. This is the first back to back snow on snow (4" Friday Dec 23 too) since Halloween :) Now for the first time this season we have double digit snow cover at some of our ski resorts. Stowe Mountain Resort seems to have hit the Jackpot this time, with 14" since Friday. Here is a shot from Mount Mansfield Christmas Afternoon.
Stowe Christmas Snow 2011.jpeg


 I always ask, is there snow on the car? If the answer is yes, then we have some serious snow, not just summit flakes. Even the village at Stowe measured 7" of snow Monday Morning Dec 26.
We also have enough snow to get serious about Cross Country Skiing, and maybe even some snow machine riding. But the lakes have thin ice, so we have a way to go.
Have you noticed that each Sunday we have a cold High form Canada, and each Wednesday we have a warm storm from The Gulf of Mexico, then we start getting colder with big wind again by Thursday? Weather has a memory, the same thing is happening this week, only a day earlier. The storm that left New Mexico with more snow than New England is recharging to day (at least the half left behind (note the thunderstorms south of Nantucket with a front runner)), this storm is set to bomb out as it tracks up The Connecticut River Valley Tuesday Night with Damaging wind and heavy rain. The rain snow line goes all the way to the Canadian Boarder. But it is a brief thaw, our tallest northern most mountains will have little snow loss. The storm will start and end as snow from Sugarbush to Saddleback. The wind is so strong Wedfmnesday, most summit lifts will not operate Wednesday. But snow guns will! By Thursday we will have forgotten the rain. By New Year's weekend a few more inches of new snow will keep spirits white.
  We also have some fun surf coming up as a storm at sea, combined with this inside runner, will generate a decent groundswell Tuesday-Friday.
  Here are our Christmas 2011 Snow Totals from National Weather Service Spotters (opposed to ski area measure-rs (not that I have a problem with you guys, but the public may)) ;-)
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
SPOTTER REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
1023 AM EST MON DEC 26 2011

THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING THE PAST 14
HOURS FOR THE STORM THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTING OUR REGION. APPRECIATION
IS EXTENDED TO HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS...COOPERATIVE AND COCORAHS
OBSERVERS...SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND MEDIA FOR THESE REPORTS. THIS
SUMMARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR HOME PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/BURLINGTON

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE COMMENTS
SNOWFALL OF
/INCHES/ MEASUREMENT

NEW YORK

...CLINTON COUNTY...
4 ESE PERU 1.8 1020 AM 12/26 COCORAHS

...ESSEX COUNTY...
1 N LAKE PLACID 1.5 1021 AM 12/26 COCORAHS

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
1 SW MALONE 2.5 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER

VERMONT

...ADDISON COUNTY...
2 SE LINCOLN 1.0 1014 AM 12/26 COCORAHS

...CALEDONIA COUNTY...
2 ESE EAST BURKE 5.0 931 AM 12/26 BURKE MOUNTAIN
2 SW SUTTON 3.4 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
3 NNW SHEFFIELD 2.4 1016 AM 12/26 COCORAHS
2 NE SUTTON 2.4 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
2 E DANVILLE 2.4 1017 AM 12/26 COCORAHS
HARDWICK 1.3 1017 AM 12/26 COCORAHS
4 N WALDEN 1.2 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER

...CHITTENDEN COUNTY...
3 SE WEST BOLTON 7.5 930 AM 12/26 BOLTON VALLEY RESORT
1 ENE NORTH UNDERHIL 6.3 800 AM 12/26 NWS EMPLOYEE
JONESVILLE 3.0 615 AM 12/26 NWS EMPLOYEE
1 NNE JERICHO 1.5 1016 AM 12/26 COCORAHS
1 NNE HUNTINGTON 1.2 1015 AM 12/26 COCORAHS
1 NE SOUTH BURLINGTO 1.1 812 AM 12/26 NWS OFFICE

...ESSEX COUNTY...
1 N ISLAND POND 3.3 842 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
GILMAN 2.0 500 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
1 ENE AVERVILL 1.8 800 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
FLETCHER 6.5 858 AM 12/26 TRAINED SPOTTER
2 W NORTH FAIRFAX 1.7 1018 AM 12/26 COCORAHS

...LAMOILLE COUNTY...
2 SSE SMUGGLERS NOTC 8.5 804 AM 12/26 STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT
2 NW MOSCOW 8.0 924 AM 12/26 TRAPP FAMILY LODGE
STOWE 6.8 804 AM 12/26 STOWE VILLAGE
CAMBRIDGE 6.0 953 AM 12/26 TRAINED SPOTTER
MORRISVILLE 5.5 859 AM 12/26 PUBLIC
2 S EDEN 4.2 929 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
5 N JEFFERSONVILLE 4.0 917 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
3 NE HYDE PARK 3.6 1019 AM 12/26 COCORAHS

...ORANGE COUNTY...
CORINTH 0.6 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
2 NW CHELSEA 0.2 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER

...ORLEANS COUNTY...
JAY PEAK 5.0 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
1 WNW WESTFIELD 2.5 1019 AM 12/26 COCORAHS
3 ENE BARTON 2.0 1020 AM 12/26 COCORAHS
NEWPORT 1.1 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER

...RUTLAND COUNTY...
3 WNW WEST BRIDGEWAT 1.0 933 AM 12/26 KILLINGTON RESORT
1 N RUTLAND T 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
2 W WORCESTER 3.6 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
2 NNE WATERBURY CENT 3.0 802 AM 12/26 TRAINED SPOTTER
4 ENE CABOT 2.0 1022 AM 12/26 COCORAHS
2 SW MONTPELIER 2.0 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
2 SE BUELS GORE 1.5 936 AM 12/26 MAD RIVER GLEN
5 SW MARSHFIELD 1.1 1021 AM 12/26 COCORAHS

...WINDSOR COUNTY...
1 S ROCHESTER 1.0 650 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
WOODSTOCK 0.5 800 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER
4 N BETHEL 0.5 700 AM 12/26 CO-OP OBSERVER

$$

MUCCILLI


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
SPOTTER REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME
1002 AM EST MON DEC 26 2011

THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING THE PAST 24
HOURS FOR THE STORM THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTING OUR REGION. APPRECIATION
IS EXTENDED TO HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS...COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...CWOP
OBSERVERS...SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND MEDIA FOR THESE REPORTS. THIS
SUMMARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR HOME PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/CARIBOU

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE COMMENTS
SNOWFALL OF
/INCHES/ MEASUREMENT

MAINE

...AROOSTOOK COUNTY...
ALLAGASH 1 ENE 1.0 824 AM 12/26
CARIBOU 0.4 750 AM 12/26
PRESQUE ISLE 1 ENE 0.4 750 AM 12/26

...HANCOCK COUNTY...
PENOBSCOT 5.5 840 PM 12/25
WALTHAM 1 NNE 3.6 817 AM 12/26
BROOKLIN 1.3 755 PM 12/25

...PENOBSCOT COUNTY...
BRADLEY 5.0 1003 PM 12/25
ORONO 4.0 1245 AM 12/26
BANGOR 2 W 3.6 751 AM 12/26
BANGOR 1 SW 3.5 928 AM 12/26
STETSON 5 ENE 3.0 1002 PM 12/25
PATTEN 3 NW 0.5 822 AM 12/26

...PISCATAQUIS COUNTY...
KINGBURY 2 SSE 4.0 812 PM 12/25
DOVER-FOXCROFT 1 WSW 2.5 820 AM 12/26

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
WESLEY 4.2 820 AM 12/26
COLUMBIA FALLS 1 NNE 4.0 843 AM 12/26
TOPSFIELD 2.8 822 AM 12/26
MACHIAS 2.0 822 AM 12/26
MACHIAS 2 ENE 1.5 745 AM 12/26

$$

TWD


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
SPOTTER REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
805 PM EST SUN DEC 25 2011

THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING THE PAST 25
HOURS FOR THE STORM THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTING OUR REGION. APPRECIATION
IS EXTENDED TO HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS...COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...SKYWARN
SPOTTERS AND MEDIA FOR THESE REPORTS. THIS SUMMARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE
ON OUR HOME PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/GRAY

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE COMMENTS
SNOWFALL OF
/INCHES/ MEASUREMENT

MAINE

...ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY...
DURHAM 0.8 804 PM 12/25

...CUMBERLAND COUNTY...
GRAY NWS OFFICE 0.7 713 PM 12/25

...KNOX COUNTY...
CAMDEN 4.5 646 PM 12/25 -SN AT OBSERVATION
HOPE 4.0 717 PM 12/25

...SAGADAHOC COUNTY...
TOPSHAM 0.5 628 PM 12/25

...SOMERSET COUNTY...
SKOWHEGAN 2.0 625 PM 12/25

$$

MPK


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