Well it’s not quite what I had in mind for a white Christmas here in Syracuse but there is a dusting of snow on the ground.  If the sun comes out for 10 minutes that will be the end of that.  Perhaps tonight and tomorrow will bring all of the Golden Snowball cities a few inches of snow to cover the ground 😉  Any snow on the ground in the other cities?

We just wanted to wish all of you a Merry Christmas.  From our Families to yours have a safe, white or green, Merry Christmas and lets remember those who are away from their families these holidays protecting all of us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!

With another decade complete, the National Weather Service has updated the climate averages, which include daily high and low temperatures, and what we’re all interested in here, daily and seasonal snowfall. Because of international agreement, these averages use 30 years of data, the 3 most recently completed decades. Since the beginning of our Golden Snowball website, we have been using the averages from 1971-2000. However, soon we will be using the “new” averages, which are from 1981-2010. I’ll have to look into the “true” ending for snowfall when I get a chance as the snowfall season goes from July-June, which is different than basically every other stat. My guess is when they compute the snowfall averages, they use the snowfall for each year (1990), rather than each season (July 1990-June 1991).

I figured I’d take a look at the “old” averages and compare them with the “new” ones.

Of the 5 GSB cities, only Binghamton and Syracuse’s averages have gone up. Syracuse is now the only city with an average of 100 or more, as Rochester falls a half an inch short at 99.5. The biggest difference between the averages is Albany’s, a decrease in 3.5 inches.

You may have noticed that I keep calling these averages, while most other people call them normals. That is because I generally try to avoid using “normal” when talking about statistics like these. To me, “normal” gives the false impression that the average is what you should expect, what “normally” happens. As any of the long time residents in the GSB cities know, the only thing normal about our winters is their abnormality.

Hello snow lovers and snow haters 🙂  It looks like snow is in the forecast for some of the goldensnowball cities like it or not.  I’ve always been surprised each snow season as to the city that starts off the new season receiving the first snowfall.

I’m not even sure if anyone is coming here yet but if you are lets start this new website off with a question.  Which city do you all think will get the first measurable snowfall to kick off the new 2011 – 2012 golden snowball contest?  Will it be Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse or a couple of them?  The normal prize for the winner which is a virtual pat on the back.  Yeah, we spare no expenses here at goldensnowball.com 😉

I’m gonna say that Binghamton starts the snow party!

Have a great day and more important have a safe winter season all!