FOX44 - Burlington / Plattsburgh News, Weather & Sports2.2.12 What A Difference A Year Makes...But Why?!?!

2.2.12 What A Difference A Year Makes...But Why?!?!

I feel as though all I've heard myself say this winter season is "it's going to be warmer than average" or "no big snowstorms in the forecast" or "guess what? more rain coming in with this next storm system"... quite frankly, I'm tired of it, too! This has been a weird winter.

Sometimes it helps to understand why weird things happen. So here's my explanation of "what gives" with this winter (see video below).

January turned out to be yet another month of above average temperatures and below average snowfall. Averaging about 5-6 degrees warmer both during the day and at night, January in the northeast only joined the rest of the country seeing above average warmth for the month.

 Almost every part of the US experienced above average temps in January..the only exceptions were the extreme Pacific Northwest and Alaska (not shown).

So? What gives? Will the pattern change? Seasonal forecasters (not me...) say that we are headed back to a pattern that would be more conducive to colder weather, and perhaps whiter weather than we have seen thus far this winter. Natural fluctuations in the jet stream should allow colder air to return to at least northern New England through February and March. While it's improbably we will catch up to last year's banner snowfall season totals, there is still hope for those of you who are wishing for snow and cold....and well, *a winter*!