We’re closing in on February now and gaining 2-4 minutes of daylight every day. The higher sun angle is starting to improve our temperatures and the cold snaps we encounter tend to be more short-lived. Our average high for this time of the year is in the low 30s…out of the first 22 days, we were above that 11 times.  On February 10th we broke a record by hitting 48 degrees. Another phenomenon that will occur this month…Comet Lulin.  It will be closest to the Earth on February 24th and then slowly dim in the days following.

Click here for more information on Comet Lulin.

Another reminder that Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8th this year (set your clocks ahead one hour) and ends on November 1st.

Thanks for reading!

Meteorologist LeAnn Lombardo

Posted under Hometown Weather

February is month number three of winter, climatologically speaking.  December was snowy, January was bitter.  February, however, hasn’t been too bad.  In the span of just 36 hours a record high has been set, rain has fallen, and our snow depth has shrunk from 8″ down to a meager 1″.  Winter began in much the same fashion last year, but instead of a prolonged winter thaw, February went in a completely different direction in 2008.  Here are a few differences through the first 10 days:

                                                                      2008                       2009 

                                 Total Snowfall:                  4.4″                          0.1″

                                  Average High:                 24.1                         31.3

                                    Snow Depth:                  10″                             1″

Obviously, we still have a month to go before Spring officially begins (38 days and counting down), but this is certainly a step in that direction.  In case you are wondering, February 2008 concluded with 13.1″ of snowfall, an average temperature of 22.1 degrees, and a maximum snow depth of 15″ on the 19th.  A sneak peek ahead features a pretty quiet stretch for the Chippewa Valley, with our next best chance of accumulating snow not until next week! 

Chief Meteorologist Doug Michaels

Posted under Weather