Dust The Shovels Off

The predictions have started.  A storm has already been named.  Winter hasn't technically started, but the reality is it has.  The first flakes will fly before the week is over in Pennsylvania.

The winter previews from the Philadelphia news sources have yet to arrive.  I would guess those should all appear within the next few weeks.  Like in seasons past I will gather all these guesses to see who did the best when the season ends.  Personally I would prefer to not make a prediction since it amounts to nothing more than a guess.  But what fun would that be.  I have the same chance at being accurate as all of the others.

I will be the first to step up to the plate.  When you consider average snowfall totals you have to consider all the random numbers calculated throughout the years of recordings.  This is why I find it amusing when the Philadelphia stations predict 20-24 inches for the city or basically the seasonal average.  It doesn't consistently snow the same amount every year!  Now for my take.  The Lehigh and Delaware valley's have missed out on the big snow the last few years, but they have been close by.  Like always the potential for a winter battleground in our area could take shape.

• I see potential for at least one major storm (12-15 inches)
• Two storms of a moderate scale (6-8 inches)

This puts us in the ballpark of 24-31 inches which I could settle on if one of those storms doesn't pan out and the rest of the winter is marginal.  However, I will keep with the guesses above and add in the occasional lighter snows for a season for the Reading to Allentown corridor, minus the areas at higher elevation, of 36-39 inches.


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It's time to follow three more cities this year in my so-called snow zones.  I have the pleasure of introducing the three participants this season all coming from the northeast.

As returning champion and overall big city winner yet again last year, Syracuse will once again be represented strong.  Let's be honest, it's going to take a big winter somewhere else in the country to knock Syracuse off their perch.

Head north and we get contestant number two.  Situated along Lake Champlain is the lovely little town of Burlington, Vermont.  For an area that does not see lake effect snow, they can really pound out some solid seasonal totals.

Our wild card this year will be Johnstown, PA.  They have the distinction of being built in a ditch.  It is surrounded in all directions in what I will call large hills.  In winter this elevation difference can help increase moisture in the town and make snowfall totals a bit higher than in other locations.  Though the average isn't very high, it only takes a few big storms to keep this town in the running.