This week's snow event is arriving right on schedule for the Northeast. Despite February being considered the tail end of winter for most parts of the country, the second month of the year is also typically the snowiest for many regions.
What is it about the conditions in February that support the chances of heavy snow? Read on for more information about what the data tells us.
February Snowiest Month of the Year for Much of the Northeast
Data from the Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-D) has been used to create a map detailing which month typically records the most snow in different locations throughout the U.S. In order to qualify for the data analysis, a location needs to see an average annual snowfall total measuring a minimum of 6 inches.
Not surprisingly, the bulk of the snowfall for all locations happens on the back half of the solar winter. This time period extends between November 6 through February 5 in the Northern Hemisphere, translating to about 45 days on either end of December's winter solstice.