The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Winter of 2017-18 colder, snowier
When discussing the 2017-18 winter, most will agree they’re glad it’s over.
AccuWeather Long Range Meteorologist Max Vido described it best.
“This winter was like a roller coaster ride,” said Vido, who’s based in State College, Pennsylvania. “It got very cold in January and very warm in February.”
On Jan. 7, it was minus 6 degrees in Willoughby and on Feb. 20 it was 70 degrees, he said.
This year’s winter also proved to be colder than 2016-2017.
For example, average daily temperatures last December were a high of 35.4 and a low of 22.1 degrees, compared with December 2016 averages of 37.6 and 27 degrees as the daily high and low, according to The National Weather Service.
January and February temperature averages ranged from 6 to 9 degrees lower this year, the report also shows.
Chardon Public Works Director Paul Hornyak said the winter was tougher because of colder temperatures. As a result, the street department used more salt and accumulated more overtime.
“Salt usage was definitely up this year than in years past,” he said.
However, they did not experience a shortage.
“We participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s purchasing program, which provides salt in bulk,” he said.
“We’re very fortunate, because we have a salt barn that holds up to 4,400 tons of salt,” he said.
They also use a mixture that helps melt the snow and ice quicker.
“Our salt is pre-wet with a brine solution consisting of magnesium and calcium chloride, thereby lowering the freezing temperatures,” he said in a previous interview.
On the other hand, Painesville Township Service Director Bill Thompson said they used less salt this year, but had 400 total more hours in overtime.
“We got a newer truck and we use a liquid de-icer that cuts down the amount of salt needed. It also melts quicker,” he said.
Painesville Township also did not experience a salt shortage.
“We ordered 1, 600 tons and used 1,563 tons,” he said.
Thompson said the time period between Christmas and New Year’s Day was the worst because of consecutive snowstorms.
“We got a lot of snow,” he said.
“We don’t do shift work because we only have eight guys and we needed all eight on the roads. That made for some long days. I really compliment the guys and how they tackled it.”
Vido said Lake County received a total of about 52 inches of snow, which is not far away from normal.
“The average for Northeast Ohio is 60 inches between November and March,” he said.
In 2016-2017, much of the Great Lakes (region) saw considerably fewer snow events, only about two main ones, and thus less nasty and dangerous conditions, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said in a previous interview.
“Cleveland, as it turns out, saw again a different trend,” he said. “Last year, (2016-17) the area (and surrounding environs) received about 34.5 inches of snow.”
Hornyak said overall this past winter was tough on infrastructure, water and sewer, and everyone is happy it is over.
March 20 marked the first day of spring, although it has not felt like it.
“We will see a sluggish start to spring,” Vido said. “There will be some nice days, but expect cooler temperatures in April. The jet stream is dipping down and carrying colder air from the Arctic.”
Jet streams act as an invisible director of the atmosphere and are largely responsible for changes in the weather across the globe, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
The pattern of the jet stream explains the weather we experience, Vido added.