Starting Fresh

All it took was a new year to get the snow machine cranking around the lakes.  Lake Effect Snow warnings are up for Buffalo, Erie and Cleveland.  A watch is in place for Syracuse.  And if you live anywhere near the lakes in Michigan, expect to be shoveling for much of the first week of 2012.  Many of these places will get two to three times more snow than they have seen this pitiful season. 

Many people have been waiting awhile to get snow in those areas.  All I was hoping for was some cold weather and luckily it is on the way just in time.  After above normal temperatures for most of the last two months including both days this weekend, the cold air will shoot in for the outdoor game tomorrow in Philadelphia.  Only issue that could be more of an irritant to the fans is the cold air will be ushered in with some pretty strong winds that will certainly make the day a cold one. 

Now that December is over we can go back and look at how good the locals were at making forecasts.  I did not do monthly predictions since clearly I don’t have the resources they do so I am out of the running.  But my below average snowfall for Philadelphia still looks good.  Let’s take a look.

Average high in Philly was 50.9 degrees.  That is a full 6 degrees above normal.  Not very normal.  The average low was another 5 ½ degrees above normal.  I would say the month was quite warm.  And of course in terms of snow, squadoosh.  Rewind to the predictions.

CBS- Average Temps, Little Snowfall-  Sorry, can’t give much credit for almosts

Fox kept it simple by saying snow and cold through January.  Guess it’s a miss for now

ABC-  Cold first half.  Try again.

NBC- Below Average, 10 inches.  Credit for specifics but not even close.

Overall I would say that this was a general fail.  Of course it would have been bold to say no snow and above normal temps in December.  But it also would have been right.

Since somebody, specifically the areas I’m watching, are finally getting snow, expect some picture posts soon.  Bring on the snow!