Boston: January Snowfall and Blockbuster Winters

[donsutherland1]

Prior to January 2005, Boston saw January snowfall reach or exceed 30" in six years: 1904, 1938, 1948, 1978, 1994, and 1996. In 5 of 6 (83%) of cases, Boston's seasonal snowfall exceeded 70". Average seasonal snowfall for such winters came to 83.5".

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January   Snow   Season
1904   35.7    72.9
1938   33.6    50.6
1948   32.5    89.2
1978   35.9    85.1
1994   33.7    96.3
1996   39.8   107.0


5 of those 6 (83%) winters were among the 10 snowiest on record:

1903-04 8th
1947-48 3rd
1977-78 4th
1993-94 2nd
1995-96 1st

In 5 of those 6 (83%) seasons, February snowfall exceeded 15".

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Season   Feb
1903-04   16.5
1937-38   10.0
1947-48   17.0
1977-78   27.2
1993-94   36.2
1995-96   15.5


Finally, in 5 of those 6 (83%) seasons, the rest of the winter saw more than 25" of snow:

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Season   Remainder
1903-04   26.6
1937-38   12.1
1947-48   28.8
1977-78   43.3
1993-94   51.0
1995-96   39.6


Consequently, given past climatology, Boston has a very strong chance at having a truly blockbuster season with 70" or more. If one factors in analogs that had been suggesting a snowier than average winter in Boston and are currently pointing to a snowier than normal February from the Mid-Atlantic to New England, Boston's chances of having such a winter are even greater.

[Persepone]

[quote="donsutherland1"]Prior to January 2005, Boston saw January snowfall reach or exceed 30" in six years: 1904, 1938, 1948, 1978, 1994, and 1996.

I just realized I was around for 4 of those (and this one). I think I have snapshots of the 1948 storm around--I had a little grey snowsuit with a pink lining.