Snow And Ice In The Northern Hemisphere 2011/12

[roys]

seems to be more ice this year than 2007 should be more impresive in nexst couple of weeks

[Isolated Frost]

seems to be more ice this year than 2007 should be more impresive in nexst couple of weeks

2007 was dreadful. And 2011 is only just edging it imo.

[greybing]

2007 was dreadful. And 2011 is only just edging it imo.

Yes ,i'd agree seems to be 2011 is just edging above in terms of ice and snow than 2007.

[cyclonic happiness]

Afternoon all!

Today is the first instance where the ice has touched the coast of northern Russia, which is very good news as now there'll be an explosion of snow growth!

So, stand back folks!

The snow is doing ok too, we have lost a little from yesterday, but nothing to worry about

Edited October 21, 2011 by cyclonic happiness

[cyclonic happiness]

Yes ,i'd agree seems to be 2011 is just edging above in terms of ice and snow than 2007.

Here's the images for today and the same day in 2007

I think we look a little bit healthier

[Kyros]

The Ice has joined!

[bobbydog]

this time last year

not much difference, a bit more sea ice maybe

then one month later...

then another month...

[sebastiaan1973]

Afternoon all!

Today is the first instance where the ice has touched the coast of northern Russia, which is very good news as now there'll be an explosion of snow growth!

What's the reason for this snowgrowth? I thought open water gives the atmosphere more moisture?

[cyclonic happiness]

What's the reason for this snowgrowth? I thought open water gives the atmosphere more moisture?

To be honest I'm not sure, it just always seems to be the catalyst for the majority of snow growth.

Watch when the south western part of the ice sheet touches the Russian coast, you'll see the snow taking off like a rocket in that region.

Edited October 21, 2011 by cyclonic happiness

[karyo]

Good to see the Bulgarian snow surviving considering how early in the season it is and that the upper air has now warmed up.

However, it is notable how much lower we are in snow cover and ice compared to last year!

Karyo

[BornFromTheVoid]

Cryosphere today has updated so a few more images for ye.

[roys]

the ice is further south on the greenland coast this year than this time last year also more snow in iceland

[Snowmad79]

the ice is further south on the greenland coast this year than this time last year also more snow in iceland

Indeed which was pointed out a day or two ago along with that, more snow over Noway too than last year. So overall compaired with last year, snowfall at this time of year is more southern in extent. Got be a good sign for a cold winter, no ?

[Isolated Frost]

End of the hi-res (not lo-res!), a massive siberian high from deepest siberia to the finnish border. I don't believe in building blocks but that's one beaut!

[Geordiesnow]

the ice is further south on the greenland coast this year than this time last year also more snow in iceland

I actually don't think having ice down the Greenland coast is as good of a thing as you make out, this suggests to me that the set ups during the summer had more winds out of fram pushing the ice down the eastern side of Greenland? BFTV would know more than me though.

Too me regarding the ice situation it will be interesting how long it will take for the Kara Sea to freeze over, seeing as the ice quickly melted away as soon as the temps started to rise and it has been quite warm there during this Autumn and in all honesty, any cold weather does not look like lasting long as more mild air is predicted to come up from the South so could be a late refreeze?

Also Hudson Bay could take quite a long time to refreeze, there has been frequent hot spells over Hudson and even this Autumn has seen quite mild spells being persistant and as far as I understand the SST's are very high over Hudson bay so like last year it could take until December-early January for it too freeze over completely.

[summer blizzard]

End of the hi-res (not lo-res!), a massive siberian high from deepest siberia to the finnish border. I don't believe in building blocks but that's one beaut!

I imagine that it is not unusual for the Siberian High to develop around early November. As a winter surface high it only requires uppers of -15C and snow cover.

That chart also illustrates the problem for ice growth near Scandinavia and Western Russia in that this region is receiving a southerly flow. The chart also shows a fairly strong polar vortex with the only leak in the system in eastern/central Russia.

[snowlover2009]

Wouldn't more ice around Greenland, mean less blocking around that area and also more snow further south, could also mean less blocking further north. With less blocking to the north, the snow extent will shift south, but only so far I imagine. But I could be wrong.

[cyclonic happiness]

Morning all!

Here's today's little lot

[cyclonic happiness]

Morning all!

Not much change today.

[BornFromTheVoid]

Well behind 2010 for both snow and ice, and looking fairly close to 2007.

[greybing]

Well behind 2010 for both snow and ice, and looking fairly close to 2007.

Hmn...yes. I doubt this will bear any relation to the weather of the forthcoming season,we shall see.

Edited October 23, 2011 by greybing

[cyclonic happiness]

Morning all!

Not an awful lot of change this morning, but no meltback!

And the ice has touched down on the western Siberian side now

[Aaron]

Aw.. the UK patch is gone

[karyo]

Aw.. the UK patch is gone

Surprise, surprise!

[chionomaniac]

I would really like to see the Siberian snow cover march westwards before the end of the month. There is a study that links the Siberian autumnal snowcover to colder weather due to stratospheric feedback in January - I will try and look for it later.