Buffalo Sneaks in Some Snow and Slips Past The Rock

Posted by The Snowman on December 7, 2011
Posted in: buffalo snow, golden snowball contest.

Buffalo has officially started their snow season now picking up 0.4 inches of snow.  Just enough to slip past Rochester and send them to the bottom of the snow hill.  Right around this time last season we started to get pounded with non stop snow 🙂  Can it happen again?

Check out the snow stats above and you will see the big jump in the snowfall totals for this time last year.  Right now all of the Goldensnowball cities other than Albany are way behind last seasons snow totals.  Cold air has finally moved into the area and with that hopefully the ground will have a nice, fresh blanket of white glimmering in the next couple of days.

The big 3 from New York are way at the bottom of the national snow contest for the 2011 – 2012 snow season.  That started up a few weeks ago and we all will have some catching up to do in that snow contest.  You can check out the Golden Snow Globe contest here.

I’m sure the sledders and ski slopes are hoping the cold sticks around for awhile.  No doubt with the warm November we all had the lakes have to be pretty warm compared to normal.  I can now say that I am ready for a couple of nice lake effect snow events and I’m sure the snow lovers are also.  Bring it On!

See Snow – Drive Slow!  Have a super day all!

Shot In The Dark Forecasts: December 2011

Posted by Stephen on December 5, 2011
Posted in: forecasts. Tagged: .

It’s that time again! Well, actually, that time was a few days ago, but after a bit of a delay, I’m finally ready for the snow season. With that comes the forecasts. First a bit of a reminder of what exactly is going on for those new to this, along with a few changes.

At times throughout the season, I will prepare different types of forecasts. There will be 10 short term forecasts (about 2-3 days) called Point Blank Range and 5 long term (about a month) called Shot In The Dark. The idea behind each forecast is to be a bit different than you’d see in most forecasts on TV. What does that mean? No waffle words like “chance of” or “likely” when I make a forecast, it will be definitive. Also, at the beginning of each following forecast, I will look back and see how the forecast fared. Each forecast will fall into one of three categories: Bull’s Eye, On Target or Complete Miss.

Now on to the changes for this season. First off, I will not be doing a season outlook. Instead, I will be doing a long term forecast for 5 months, December through April. Secondly, the two sites, Golden Snowball and Golden Snow Globe, will be kept separate. In previous years, I’d try to find something that would work for both New York State and elsewhere at the same time. More often than not, I’d only be able to have a snow forecast for one area. So this gives me more flexibility. If I need to make a GSB forecast on a Tuesday and a GSG forecast on a Friday, or if it’s weeks in between, then that would work this year. And finally, I’m doubling the points for the Shot In The Dark forecasts. So now it’s 4 points for a Bull’s Eye, 2 for On Target and 0 for a Complete Miss. The goal for the end of the season will remain the same: 1.00 average or better (it worked out that even with this change my forecasts last season didn’t mean the 1.00 mark, so that is the goal again this season).

Now that’s out of the way, it’s time for the first Shot In The Dark Forecast of the season!

The “big 3” of Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse are currently behind Albany and Binghamton in the early stages of the snow race. Of course that will not last once the lake effect machine comes into play. It wouldn’t surprise me if the standings flipped at the end of the month, so that’s what I’m going with for this month.

Bull’s Eye: The standings at the end of the month will be Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Albany.
On Target: Three of the cities end up in their forecasted position.
Complete Miss: 2 or fewer cities end up in their forecasted position.

Have a great week everyone!

Who Wants Snow – Take It or Leave It

Posted by The Snowman on November 27, 2011
Posted in: golden snowball contest.

This season seems to be following last seasons pattern.  Albany has a pretty good jump for them but the rest of us are right around the same snowfall totals as last year.  That brings up the question of are you looking forward to the snow season or would you rather it stay like it’s been so far?

It’s hard not to enjoy these 50 – 60 degree days going all the way through November isn’t it?  If memory serves me right and normally it doesn’t I think all hell broke out once December started up and kept on going and going and going.  Especially in the Syracuse area.

That said, post a comment  by clicking on the little bubble if you want it to start snowing now or if your content with no snow at all 😉

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Shameless website plug of the day is our children’s toys site.  We have around 80,000 toys, bikes, kids games and all of the popular toys including the nerf vortex guns for this Christmas.  Many merchants including Walmart, Sears, Target, Kmart and some smaller stores that we like.  Click here to check out out childrens toys site online.

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Hey, Have a Great Week All!

Syracuse Starts up Their 2011 – 2012 Snowfall Season

Posted by The Snowman on November 19, 2011
Posted in: golden snowball contest, syrsacuse snowfall. Tagged: , .

Syracuse is finally on the snow hill for the 2011 – 2012 winter season.  NOAA is showing 6 tenths of an inch for Da Cuse which is just enough to put them into 3rd place.  It’s an early start compared to last season for Syracuse and they have doubled the snow amount that they started off the season last year.

Yesterday they picked up .6 inches of snow compared to last season when they picked up .3 inches of snow exactly one year from today.  So does that mean that Syracuse will be doubling last seasons snow totals?  If I were a Syracusan, Oh yeah I am, I would hope not 🙂  250 something inches is a little (a lot) too much for even myself.  Now it’s Buffalo’s turn.

Buffalo is the only Golden Snowball city  left to post some measuable snowfall.  I’m sure it won’t be too long from now and Buffalo always likes to start up their snowy season with a grand entrance.  I’m hoping that they do 🙂  I’m also hoping that this season all of the snow in the Buffalo area falls right at the airport.  It’s looking like it’s going to be a fun snow contest this season.  It already is just by having Albany in the lead.

Have an Awesome Weekend All and check out the new Christmas Inflatables and Snow Globes out at one of our new sites.!

Rochester Has Started Their 2011 – 2012 Snow Season

Posted by The Snowman on November 18, 2011
Posted in: rochester snow.

Rochester finally started up theit snow season for 2011 – 2012 reporting 0.3 inches of snow so far.  That now makes 3 of the 5 Golden Snowball cities that are on the snow mountain.  Syracuse most likely with a little bit of overnight snow has also started their season but no official stats out to report yet.  I’m not sure what’s going on in Buffalo.  Does anyone have info on anything at the Buffalo airport?

I’ve been hearing a lot of talk from friends and family that how we have started the season so far that it shouldn’t be anything like last season.  I kind of hated to bust their snowball (bubble) having to tell them that this season is starting out exactly like last season so far with just a trace of snow at this time last year.  OK, I really, truly loved busting their bubble telling them that 🙂  Right now though, all of the GSB cities other then Albany are behind their average snowfall totals for this time of year.  Let’s see if it lasts.

Right now Albany has the jump on last years total and it will be interesting to see if they can hold on.  Really it won’t be because we know that just isn’t going to happen.  I’ll try and get another update in later if the snow stats change.

Have a Great Weekend All!

National Weather Service Binghamton Weather Spotter Training in Syracuse

Posted by The Snowman on November 16, 2011
Posted in: news.

Here is a heads up for anyone interested in learning more about being a weather spotter for the National Weather Service.  It sounds like a good two hour training course for anyone and any age to learn about how to measure snow, report it to NOAA and other weather related stuff.  Right now I report snow totals like so.  If  the snow covers my foot we got 3 inches, up to my ankle maybe 4 inches to the knee about 15 inches fell 🙂  Of course that’s not the right way to do it so I will be attending the class to learn whatever they have to offer.  Here is more info about the class taken from http://www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.Binghamton.gov?sk=events#!/event.php?eid=306464272699880 and they do want you to pre-register:

Time
Monday, November 21 · 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location
East Syracuse-Minoa High School

6400 Fremont Road
East Syracuse, NY 13057
Created By
More Info
The National Weather Service in Binghamton, NY will be holding a Winter SKYWARN training class (weather spotters) on November 21st from 7 to 9 pm at the East Syracuse-Minoa High School auditorium. This class is for beginners or anybody that has a general interest in weather. The class is free and open to everyone (no age requirements or previous training). We cover the basics of winter weather hazards, winter weather terminology, etc., while training you on how to report winter weather to the National Weather Service.

We have a limited number of seats so please register if you plan on attending. To register or if your have questions please respond via email to bgm.skywarn@noaa.gov. When registering we need your name, number of attending, city/village you live in, phone number, and how you found out about the class.

Hope to see ya’s there 🙂