Winter 2018 is in the books;a look back at its ups and downs

Spring arrived at 12:15p.m. on Tuesday and how we wish winter temperatures would stay in the rearview!  Unfortunately the 30s will stick around through the end of this week but no major storms will impact WNY either.  Moderating temperatures next week with seasonable highs to end the month of March will get many in the spirit of spring.

So let's take a look back at this winter season of 2017-2018.

SNOW

The comparison of snowfall from last season to this season, no shocker is we had more snow!  We're over the 100 inch mark for the 2017-2018 season.  The average for the season is 94.7" and last year we didn't even come close to that settling in at 76.2".

Up to the first day of spring, Buffalo averages 88.5" of snow, we're almost 20 inches above that this season!  When looking at the snowiest cities in New York, Buffalo ranks third behind Syracuse and Rochester this year. Over 150 inches of snow has fallen in Syracuse  - that's OVER 12 FEET of snow and Rochester has about 2 feet above the normal amount of snow it typically receives by March 19th.

DECEMBER

December started mild with a couple of days in the 50s.  By the end of the month we had the coldest air of the season with high temperatures in the teens with the last day of the month not braking out of the single digits.  There was 33.7" of snow in December and finished 4.7 degrees below average.

JANUARY

January continued the cold streak with the 5th and 6th of the month toping out at 4 degrees (the record on both days for the coldest high temperature on record).  Less than a week later a record high temperature was recorded on the 11th.  January produced another 31.2 inches of snow.

FEBRUARY

February seemed like it was on the same track with more cold to start the month but turned a corner mid-month with above average temperatures and ended up as the 7th warmest February on record with an average temperature pof 31.7 degrees.  February produced 18.1" of snow.

MARCH

March, technically not a "winter" month meteorologically, but as still felt like winter. (December, January and February make up meteorological winter)   Only the 1st of the month was above average and it's the only day to reach 40 degrees (so far!).  The 30s are prolonged into the first week of spring because of a huge area of high-pressure centered over southern Canada.  By next week more seasonable highs come into the forecast with even some long range models hinting at some 50s to end the month of March.  March has received 22.2" of snow and currently is about 3 degrees below average.