Review: Third Least Snowiest Winter
Winter seasons in North Conway can usually be summed up into two words: cold and snowy. Unfortunately
for snow lovers, the winter of 2009-10 failed to live up to such standards as it ranked as the third
least snowiest winter season on record. A total of 52.3 inches of snow (-31.2 inches) was recorded between
October 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
The winter season began slowly in North Conway as November received only a trace amount of snow. This was
the first time that such an amount had been recorded in eighteen years. It wasn't until December 06, 2009,
that the first measurable snowfall occurred when 3.5 inches accumulated. Historically, only two days have
recorded a later first season measurable snowfall (12/12/1960 and 12/07/2006). Three days later, the first
and only significant snowfall of the season occurred in North Conway when a low pressure system produced ten
inches of snow.
During the weekend of January 03, 2010, a powerful coastal storm produced upwards of 18 to 24 inches of snow
in the White Mountains. However, a strong northwest wind dried out the precipitation in some of the valleys
due to the downslope effect. Less than one inch of snow accumulated in North Conway. This wasn't the first
time, nor would it be the last time, that the area narrowly missed out on heavy amounts of snow.
North Conway entered a dry spell towards the end of January as a string of storms missed the Mount Washington
Valley. After nearly four weeks, North Conway received its first measurable inch of snow during the onset
of a prolonged nor'easter on February 24, 2010. This storm produced 5 to 7 inches of snow on the valley floor
while at least 15 inches accumulated at an elevation at or above 1,000 feet.
Another snowless period occurred
throughout March until the month's first and only snowfall of 1.5 inch happened on March 29, 2010. This month
ranked as the second least snowiest March on record behind March 1973 when 0.2 inch of snow accumulated. April
received four times the amount of snow then that of March when two late season winter storms produced a total
accumulation of 6.1 inches on April 17, 2010 and April 28, 2010.
The lackluster 2009-10 season total of 52.3 inches of snow came after the previous two winters had consecutively
produced snowfall amounts greater than 100 inches. Residents of North Conway witnessed a 52% drop
in snowfall compared to the winter of 2008-09 when 107.8 inches had accumulated. Considering the winter of
2007-08, which produced 147.6 inches of snow, residents witnessed a 65% drop in snowfall.
One reason for the dissapointing winter season in North Conway was due to a stubborn blocking pattern that developed
in the atmosphere over Greenland and the Canadian Maritimes. This pattern displaced the storm track well to our
south into the Mid-Atlantic region. Cities from Philadelphia, PA, to Washington, D.C., not only recieved record breaking
snowfall, but also ended up with season totals greater than North Conway. The pattern also blocked
the areas supply of cold air, which resulted in warmer temperatures and a limited amount of arctic outbreaks.
Records for North Conway date back prior to 1960 and are courtesy
of the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine.
