Here & There Column 1-17-12

Will Mild Weather Continue?

Every one's talking about the mild winter we are having and there was not much more then a dusting of snow or an inch or two in some sections of the county on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning of last week with the winter weather advisory for Wednesday January 12 at night calling for snow to wintry mix with no significant snow accumulations and for Thursday January 13 temperature at 39 degrees and some rain.
When you ask a meteorologist why the mild temperatures and rain instead of snow they say its a result of autumn being autumn and not a sign of a weakening La Nina weather pattern.
Love talking with a meteorologist because what they say certainly means something to them but to the ordinary non-weather related person its just a lot of fancy words.
The forecasters noted that November was the fifth-warmest since records began in 1950 and some have even reported that this will be the mildest winter in five years.
Now I just love this report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who said it expects the La Nina weather phenomenon that results in cooler temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, to become the most dominant factor influencing weather across the country, but added that a change in pressure called the Arctic Oscillation could make it difficult for forecasters to predict more than a week or two in advance.
Trying to look ahead the MDA EarthSat is saying that through the February winter period it (meaning temperatures) will be slightly above normal for the Northeast.
Some weather experts have gone out on the edge of the limb to predict the mildest winter in five years.
Anyway you look at it there is a plus and minis side to this issue with folks being able to save on heating costs and municipalities saving on snow removal expenditures.
Merchants selling snow removal equipment and supplies along with winter clothing outlets see a dramatic drop in sales and winter resorts offering skiing, skating and snow tubing activities and folks who enjoy cross country skiing, snow shoeing, ice fishing, small game hunting and snowmobiling also don't appreciate this type of weather.
The mild weather has also forced the postponement of the annual Livingston Manor Rotary Club's Annual Ice Carnival that had originally been slated for January 15. The Ice Carnival committee said their efforts to make ice had been hampered by the warm weather.
Are weather predictions always right? With this thought in mind forecasters are quick to note that our present conditions are not necessarily indicative how the entire winter will turn out.....can you figure that one out.... we are taking it one step further and suggest that you do not take the snow tires off your car or put away the snow shovels and snow-blowers for next year.