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First measurable snow contest begins

  • Published
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  It's that time of year; the trees are losing this leaves and the hot days of summer are, not so gradually, being replaced with cool days and even cooler nights.

However, this temperate bliss will not last long; Old Man Winter waits for no one. As our autumn splendor turns into a cold winter wonderland, see if you have what it takes to guess the day and hour of the first measurable snowfall (more than half an inch.) The closest date/time guesser will be awarded the prestigious "Winter Prophesier 2007" title

Contest rules are as follows:
1. Guess the month, day, and hour of when we have at least a half-inch of snow and total seasonal snowfall. (Example: Nov. 1 at 11a.m., Season Total 50" )
2. The contestant with the date and time closest to the first half-inch of measurable snowfall will be the winner, awarded a prize and announced as "Winter Prophesier 2007" in the Fairchild E-Connection
3. Send guesses (one entry per person) to 92OSS.weather@fairchild.af.mil.
4. Last day for entries is Oct. 19, close of business.

Here are some tips to help you develop a guess for the first measurable snow:
1. The average first measurable snow over 53 years is Nov. 12.
2. Over the last four years the date was Nov. 26, 2006; Nov. 29, 2005; Nov. 30, 2004; and Nov. 20, 2003.
3. The first measurable snowfall, on average, happens about two weeks after we see the first snowflake.

Here are some weather tips to help you develop a guess for the seasonal snowfall totals:
1. The 25-year seasonal (October - May) average is 41.3 inches, and the 53-year annual (January - December average is 44.7 inches.
2. Extended forecasts from the Climate Prediction Center indicate a probability that October - January precipitation will be above average, with temperatures nearing seasonal averages. Expect continued above-normal precipitation to extend into remaining winter months.
3. About eight respectable winter storms pass each season.