At this point, snow days seem like a distant memory from our elementary days. We used to tally the snow by the feet and snow days by the weeks. Snow would arrive by late November and we’d have intermittent storms throughout December. By the holiday break, we would have mountains of snow to sled, ski, build, and play with. Those were the years of snow days.
One of the best things about our region is that we are known for snow piling up when the temperature dances around 30 degrees. This is the perfect temperature for a solid delay and potential snow day. If you’re lucky, you have the slow decline from 35 to 30 as this would prep the roads with a little sheet of ice and then add some thick and heavy snow on top, and boom, just like that you have the perfect cocktail for some infrastructure madness. This is a shoo-in for a snow day. Those are the types of weather that ask for a day of snowball fights and sledding. Another of my favorite winter combos is the wind storm or blizzard. These usually slam us when temperatures are a little colder in the 20s. With wind, it could be sub-0. When these storms hit, we have those beautiful crystals on the trees and very light and fine snow, the result of wind blasting it to bits and adhering any moisture to the wind-whipped trees. These are the days when you get the snow day call and sit back with some hot cocoa and watch the snow crystals fly from the trees.
Last year was rather unexciting, unfortunately. The snow did not behave the way it should have, particularly in the beginning weeks of winter. We had a late arrival of snow and several melting occasions throughout the winter when temperatures would creep up to the dreaded 35 and all the snow would begin to vaporize. What’s worse? When that temperature also brings the rain. Rain in winter is a buzzkill as all those feet of precipitation could be snow, rain is negative to the accumulation due to the melting effect. This is all due to the warming temperatures on the planet and the slight changes in weather patterns that have drastic effects on our time off and accumulation. However, another effect of this is the late winter damage. An example could be seen last year when, in mid-March, we were slammed with a foot and a half that stubbornly stuck to trees and homes alike. It lasted for a long time considering the temperatures and made the snow day a requirement in most Berkshire County Schools.
As for this year, I hope we have as many snow days as possible, considering Seniors are let out before we feel the effects of those days build up. But right now, it’s not looking too bright for us. Not a snow day yet and we are approaching the end of January. All we can hope for is some late winter low temperatures and maybe a surprise storm in early March! Good Luck!
