The recent cold spell across our region may be leaving some with a touch of cabin fever or other winter-related maladies...along with a strong yearning for spring.  A quick review of daily temperature and snowfall records should help put the first half of our winter into perspective...and if anything...the realization that it has been worse in the past.  After a record breaking warm November...colder air settled in around December 6th and has lingered...thanks to a persistent north to northwest wind flow.  A building upper level ridge of high pressure is expected to bring a moderation in temperatures to our region by late week into early next week.  

For the optimists...this stretch of winter has been "warm" compared to the all-time record cold of December and January 1984 when average temperatures hung around 12 to 13 degrees.

The table and graphics below provide an overview of our winter so far...


For the period 12/6/2007 - 1/21/2008

 Grand Island Hastings Kearney
Average Temperature 21.3 21.2 21.2
Average Temperature Dec - Jan 24.0 25.2 24.2
Coldest Ranking - Since 22nd - 1894 9th - 1907 20th - 1901
Most Recent Year with Colder Average Temperatures 2001 - 20.4 1993 - 20.7 2001 - 20.8
# of Days with Below Average Temperatures 25/47 29/47 26/47
Snowfall (Inches) 11.3  15.1  9.8 
Average Snowfall Dec - Jan (Inches)  10.5  9.8 9.9
Snowiest Ranking - Since 25th - 1894 9th - 1907 22nd - 1901
Most Recent Year with Heavier Snowfall/(Inches) 1995 - 11.9 1993 - 25.7 1995 - 11.0




USA.gov is the U.S. government's official web portal to all federal, state and local government web resources and services.