Snowy, warm February wraps up in BarrowPublished on March 11th, 2010 By JIM SALZWEDEL
Greater than four times the normal amount of snow fell on Barrow during February. The total snowfall was 7.9 inches whereas the normal snowfall was 1.9 inches. This brings the seasonal snowfall total for this winter to 35.2 inches, a foot and a half normal for the end of February. This is the fourth month in a row with above-normal snowfall in Barrow, and February's total of nearly eight inches places it as the fifth snowiest February in station history. Four of the top 10 snowiest Februarys have occurred within the last seven years. In fact, the 2008-2009 winter was the all-time snowiest in Barrow with 77.9 inches. The average snow depth for February was nearly 13 inches. The month averaged 19 inches on the ground. The month concluded with a solid foot of snow. Snow fell on 25 days last month with a trace or more falling on 21 consecutive days. A half an inch of snow or greater fell on four days. The two-day period during a blizzard on the Feb. 19-20 measured 4.5 inches of snow, making that two-day period the snowiest for that time in station history. February's monthly snowfall yielded 0.38 inches of water equivalency, which is a little more than three times the norm. The month concluded with tying February 1944 as the 11th warmest in station history, though no temperature records were set. The month averaged 9.7 degrees below zero with is 6.2 degree above normal. The maximum temperature for the month was seven degrees below zero on the third, 16th and 18th. Below-normal temperatures returned at the tail end of the month from Feb. 24-28. The lowest temperature for barrow was negative 43 degrees. Winds for the month averaged 15.4 MPH with the highest wind averaging 30 MPH on Feb. 20. Jim Salzwedel is the meteorological technician with the National Weather Service office in Barrow. Contact us about this article at editor@thearcticsounder.com |
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