Snow And Ice In The Northern Hemisphere 2011/12

[cheeky_monkey]

But going by the anomaly map this doesn't seem to be unusual for this time of year? Unless the anomaly ap is older than the snow extent map.

the majority of the snow cover shown is very patchy and thin..for example where i am we have a dusting at best and have had only one minor snow event this season and that was some 3 weeks ago...this time last year there was a foot of snow on the ground if not more...no snow forecast in the next 7-10 days either

[BornFromTheVoid]

Latest from Cryosphere Today

[cyclonic happiness]

Morning all!

Well looks as if we may see a 'whitening' of the southern British Isles at the end of this week......................we live in hope!

Here's your update anyways.....

[Reefseeker]

I see the snow in Troodos Mountains in Cyprus didn't quite make a pixel! But here's what it looks like anyway: http://www.skicyprus.com/webcam/

Reefseeker

[Geordiesnow]

the majority of the snow cover shown is very patchy and thin..for example where i am we have a dusting at best and have had only one minor snow event this season and that was some 3 weeks ago...this time last year there was a foot of snow on the ground if not more...no snow forecast in the next 7-10 days either

Another reason to be careful of reading too much into those charts is that if you were not from the UK, you would think most of Scotland is covered in snow when in reality its only the highlands that have got lying snow at the moment.

I'll be surprised if Hudson Bay is not fully iced over by the weekend as very cold air will pour in from Thursday onwards covering the remaning bits of open water. We probably should see the Hudson stright rapidly freeze over and join on with the ice in the Labadoar sea whilst the ice in the laptev/Kara Seas look like is going to struggle for quite a long time yet thanks to that large Russian high.

[cyclonic happiness]

Evening all!

Well here's today's update and we all wait with baited breath to see if parts of the Midlands will turn white overnight?

Personally, I think we'll miss the snow here, we ALWAYS miss the snow! lol?!

[J10]

Latest Ski blog with usual synoptic charts now out

[Summer Sun]

Today's charts more white for the uk but it will soon be gone by mid week

[mountain shadow]

I would have thought Lake Baikal would be frozen by now, it's been surrounded by snow for about a month.

[thetonynator]

I would have thought Lake Baikal would be frozen by now, it's been surrounded by snow for about a month.

Is that the one in the middle of Russia?

[osmposm]

Lake

I would have thought Lake Baikal would be frozen by now, it's been surrounded by snow for about a month.

The lake's huge depth and volume of water gives it an extreme "thermal lag". Although there will probably be freezing in the margins, it will not be frozen over until early January, sometimes later - snowmobile excursions over it apparently run for the months of February and March, when the ice is thickest. The same lag means ice remains until May-June - and is also the reason for its relatively cool summer temps, too....maxes tend to be 15-20C. It's so big that it's a bit like a maritime climate - temps are generally 10C cooler in summer and 10C warmer in winter than surrounding areas away from its influence.

Here are some stats:

The earliest and latest times of freezing: December 14, 1877; February 6, 1959. Average date: January 9

The earliest and latest times of breakup: April 17, 1923; May 26, 1879. Average date: May 5

Info is mainly from this excellent website: http://www.bww.irk.ru/baikalclimate/baikalice.html . Click on the left-side links for masses more fascinating information.

[Summer Sun]

Here is today's charts

Expect to see the UK turning rather Green during this week once the mild air arrives.

[Yozzer]

I haven't dared look out of the window after seeing this...

[osmposm]

Eeeeeek, the return of snowball earth....even Africa's got a covering!

[cyclonic happiness]

Morning guys!

I haven't posted for a couple of days mainly due to there not being alot going on once one gets to this end of the season, so bi-daily updates are in order.

Today the thing that sticks out most about the images, is the huge areas of negative anomolies in both Europe and North America.

I believe we shall see them eroded soon and that it will be in spectacular fashion, especially across Europe.

The one thing I've noticed about watching the growth of snow and ice is that, when you have a good area of negative anomoly, the lag tends to bounce back or lurch forward if you will, a bit like holding a ruler back then letting it go.

So, the areas that are very much in the red at the moment, shall be covered and be in the positive after new year.

I hope I'm right but, that's just my take on it all

Here's your update, followed by last year's for comparison.

As you can see, we have almost the exact opposite to last year's snow cover anomolies, which suggests a cold 'back end' to the winter imo.

[Yozzer]

I haven't dared look out of the window after seeing this...

I hasten to add that, before it was updated, this page was showing snow cover over the entire NH, Day After Tomorrow style!

[Harps]

Its also showing the USSR still in existence amongst a number of other geographical errors!

[trisnow]

I haven't dared look out of the window after seeing this...

Sorry but what does this mean? I can't work out what is being shown here :S

[joggs]

Just sea ice i think.

[Summer Sun]

The UK is turning very Green now, what a difference a year makes,

[BornFromTheVoid]

It seems pristine white snow is a thing of the past...

[Yozzer]

Sorry but what does this mean? I can't work out what is being shown here :S

When I first copied and pasted this page it was showing the whole of the northern hemisphere covered in snow, even tropical Africa! Unfortunately the page updates daily so has changed. Its still wrong though, showing the entire NH now snow free. Sorry for the confusion.

It seems pristine white snow is a thing of the past...

Edge of Darkness. I knew Gaia would do for us one day...

[cyclonic happiness]

Evening all!

Well here's today's update.

There's been some positive anomoly clawed back over the past couple of days, nice to see all that snow over Germany's way, good job they've got all our money to pay for the heating ehem!

[Aaron]

Sweden now almost totally covered, Norway appears totally covered

Edited December 23, 2011 by Aaron

[Michael Fishermans Friend]

Very green United States bar Montana, Utah, Colorado etc, - Eastern seaboard experiencing very mild conditions at present, (forecast was to be for a severe winter) - time for things to change though.