The snowiest winter ever

Once you add up all the snow from this winter you realize all of this is a once in a life time event. On this weekend’s FIRST we explore some of the reasons behind it.

The final tally is in from the National weather service.  The Wednesday blizzard set new records throughout the Delmarva peninsula and the Philadelphia region.

Snow totals from Wednesday come in at:

New Catle County Airport  12.8 inches

Newark 12.2 inches

Smyrna 13.0 inches

Dover 9.8 inches

Woodside 11.0 inches

Milford 7.0 inches

Lewes 7.2 inches

Ocean View 9.5

It gives the Wilmington area 66.7 inches of snow for this snow season, Philadelphia has 72.1, while Atlantic City, NJ has 50.1.  We aren’t as bad as Syracuse, NY, which has 75.9 inches of snow this season.  But snowy Rochester, NY only has 63.9 inches of snow this year. 

There are some explanations for all the snow.  David Aldrich, of davidalrich.com (and spouse of WHYY’ Stephanie Aldrich) says there is a bit of blame that can go to El Nino in the Pacific Ocean.  David talks to Tom Byrne on this week’s FIRST and says there have also been several volcanic eruptions in Alaska and Russia.  They have thrown debris in the upper atmosphere.  That could result in our cooler than average summer.  He says that should have been the first clue that we were in for a colder weather pattern.  That combined with the precipitation of El Nino and you get the snows we have experienced.  He also gives a little credit to the groundhog for predicting 6 more weeks of winter.

The long range National Weather Service forecast says we should have a nice weekend.   However, they do point out a series of low pressure areas coming into our region Monday into Tuesday.   That could produce some more snow.  

Stay tuned!