In like a Lion, out like a Lamb

2014-03-09 16:42:20.000 – Samuel Hewitt,  Summit Intern

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You know what they say about March, “If it comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb”. This statement mainly refers to the wide range of weather conditions that are possible during this month. The spring months are a period of transition between winter and summer. Because of this, it is possible to see snow one day and then rain and warm temperatures only a day or two later. Looking back at the records, March of 2012 is a perfect example of this here on the summit. Average temperatures for the first half of the month were well below freezing and nearly two feet of snow fell. Then, from the 18th to the 22nd, high temperatures were above 45 degrees, only then to fall back below freezing for the last third of the month. In March of last year, a storm from the 19th-20th dropped 24″ of snow on the summit with temperatures in the teens. So far this year, weather conditions have been quite calm with above average temperatures. However, the quiet pattern may change this week…

Over the last several days, the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model has been hinting at the phasing of two weather systems across the center of the country as they head eastward. The combination of these systems would potentially result in a major winter storm for parts of New England in the Wednesday/Thursday time frame. With that said, there is still great uncertainty as to whether or not this scenario will play out. For instance, last Monday, parts of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey were buried with close to 12″ of snow. However, only three or four days prior to the event, all signs were pointing to that same storm producing heavy snow over New England. This just goes to show that anything can happen from now until Wednesday, but as an avid snow lover, I am hoping the ECMWF output verifies!

Samuel Hewitt,  Summit Intern