2010-2011 Seasonal Snowfall Comparisons

 

Snowfall is measured year round from July 1st through June 30th. This time frame is known as the snowfall season; however, the area usually will not see or have measureable snowfall until October or past April. Below is the amount of snow that has fallen at both South Bend and Fort Wayne over the snowfall season, but we will focus our attention from October 1st through April 30th.

The snowfall season described above is not to be confused with the meteorological winter season, which only takes into account the three month period of December, January, and February. Information concerning the winter season snowfall and other seasonal climate information at South Bend and Fort Wayne can be found by clicking the links below:

South Bend Winter Season Climate Summary

Fort Wayne Winter Season Climate Summary

 

So how does this snowfall season compare to previous snowfall seasons at both South Bend and Fort Wayne?

Looking at the 212 day period (213 in leap years) from October 1st through April 30th, South Bend Airport ranks within the top 10 snowiest snowfall seasons on record as number 5. For this snowfall season through 105.6 inches was reported. The snowiest snowfall season on record occurred from October 1, 1977 through April 30, 1978, which includes The Great Blizzard of 1978, when 172.0 inches of snow fell.  The second snowiest snowfall season on record was in 1981-1982 when 135.2 inches of snow fell.

 

Rank Snow Total Snowfall Season
1 172.0 1977-1978
2 135.2 1981-1982
3 129.2 1976-1977
4 110.6 1966-1967

5

105.6

 2010-2011*
6 102.5 1962-1963
7 101.3 1978-1979
8 95.1 1959-1960
9 89.8 1958-1959
10 88.3 1984-1985

 

So how does this season compare to winter of 1977-1978 and 1981-1982?

Below is a table of the snowfall received by month:

  South Bend Snowfall Season
  1977-1978 1981-1982 2010-2011
October 0.3 0.1 0.0
November 30.3 9.1 1.3
December 33.6 41.3 23.6
January 86.1 41.3 53.8
February 16.6 19.2

                25.5                
March 5.1 10.2 1.4
April Trace 14.0 0.0
       
Season Total: 172.0 135.2 105.6

 

At Fort Wayne, the total snowfall for the season was 46.5 inches. This puts Fort Wayne within the top 10 snowiest snowfall seasons as number 9. The snowiest snowfall season ever recorded at Fort Wayne Airport was during the winter of 1981-1982 when 81.2 inches of snow fell, setting the stage for the massive flooding event in the Fort Wayne area during the Spring of 1982. The second snowiest snowfall season was in 1977-1978 when 60.6 inches of snow fell.

 

Rank Snow Total Snowfall Season
1 81.2 1981-1982
2 60.6 1977-1978
3 59.1 1911-1912
4 49.8 1983-1984
5 48.3 1914-1915
6 46.9 1966-1967, 1963-1964
8 46.7 2002-2003
9 46.5 2010-2011
10 44.7 2004-2005

 

So how does this season compare to winter of 1981-1982 and 1977-1978?

Below is a table of the snowfall received by month:

  Fort Wayne Snowfall Season
  1981-1982 1977-1978 2010-2011
October Trace Trace 0.0
November 3.6 7.1 Trace
December 17.6 18.4 10.9
January 29.5 25.3 16.1
February 14.0 6.1

18.3
March 6.7 2.7 1.2
April 9.8 1.0 0.0
       
Season Total: 81.2 60.6 46.5

 

WEISSER/CEO/TH



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