CoCoRaHS "Grand Slam"

If CoCoRaHS had a "Grand Slam", I imagine it would consist of observing "rain, hail, and snow" in one 24 hour period.  That's just what we experienced at MO-CW-1 yesterday, March 2nd.  Fueled by the same storm system that caused over 90 tornadoes East of Missouri later in the day, a cold front pushed strong and severe storms through our area around 6:00 am.  We were suddenly woken up by a prolonged hail storm (lasted about 5 minutes) that completely covered the ground with nickel to quarter-sized hail.  The hail remained on the ground for about 3 hours afterwards, with some help from rapidly dropping temperatures throughout the day.  By day's end, the wrap-around moisture met us just as the air temperature was cool enough to support snow, and we ended up with a trace from the large flakes that fell mixed in with rain.  I hadn't given it much thought before, but I can't remember a time that I saw "rain, hail, and snow" in one day.   

3.2" February 13 Snow

Finally, a substantial amount has fallen in the Show-Me State.  Most of Missouri has been blessed with a comfortable blanket of snow, and with temperatures only in the upper 20s/low 30s, it makes for great weather to get out and enjoy it.
The snow fell through most of the daylight hours yesterday, with periods of moderate to heavy snow in the afternoon.  Below is a picture from the farm in Rolla caught around 4:00.  Rolla ended up with around 4"

With temperatures climbing to the 40s and 50s later this week (the norm for winter '11-'12), our snow won't last.  Flowers will start poking through next month!

Another 1.1" and Thoughts on Winter 11-12

Thursday, January 12 brought with it another 1.1" of snow.  We were fortunate to not have school called off, although we were one of only three in Mid-MO that did not.  Don't get me wrong, I love snow days, but with the warm winter we've been having, I haven't really felt the "need" to have a day off.  The kids have been great, we've spent a lot of time outside, and we're kind of in this groove at school.  Every January and February I teach Astronomy, but it is inevitably interrupted many times by snow days, wreaking havoc on any continuity required for deep understanding.  So this year has been nice.

Again.  I love snow days.  Let's see if we get one this year.

My thoughts on this winter.  I usually get quite upset if we go this long into the season without a nice snowstorm or two.  But not this year.  We have reached above 60 degrees and even 70 a number of times.  I believe we have broken two high temperature records (at Columbia), and our rainfall has been somewhat average.  I've really enjoyed it.  I think the thing I have noticed and appreciate the most is the abundant sunshine.  This pattern sure has many meteorologists puzzled, as Alaska and northern Canada have been in the deep freeze for most of the winter with temperatures steady in the -20 to -40s.  Each week there is talk of this cold air spilling southward, and each week it stays where it is. 

Groundhog day is only 2 weeks away.  Lots can happen in two weeks in the midwest.