Here in Kansas City we can have snow from October until April. However its quite rare to have those snows. Really, truly we can have a kind of “fallish” weather lasting well into November and often “springish” weather starting in March. What I’m describing are days when we might have a spot of cold weather and with it some snow, and then its followed by warm days and the snow all melts.
So for the most part I’d say the months of the year when we really have heavy snows and severe cold are December, January, and February. That is what I call “real” winter.
So what months of the year would you say are “real” winter in your area?
December 21st or 22nd, depending on the year. That’s the equinox. Traditional seasons are a thing of the past. Warm, hot, cold, cool, temperate… All temperatures still exist but are much more loosely associated with calendar months than they were in the past.
This, otherwise it tends to devolve into a debate about whether or not it’s winter yet. If it snows for Thanksgiving, we might say “winter came early,” but we all know that it’s not really winter yet. Me might describe it as winter-like, alternatively.
The bigger issue for us Michiganders would really revolve around the definition of “spring,” as it can be quite lovely spring-like weather for several weeks before being dumped on by three feet of snow and freezing temperatures.
The official definition of winter for the local weather guys is “when the average daily temperature is below 0 C”, which is good enough for me. Looking at their statistics, winter lasts around 130-140 days (mid-November to late March) where I live. I wouldn’t mind some global warming to be honest.
Often along the northeast coast it doesn’t get really cold until January. There may be some snowfall in November and December but it can also stay above freezing most of the time. By mid January it will be very cold, hitting 0 or below overnight, and on some years we run out of places to put the snow. But still, I generally mark the start of winter as when I have to have the heat on around the clock every day, so about 3 weeks from now.
Western Washington. Very temperate here. Mild winters. Last winter we only had a few hours of snow where I’m at, and it didn’t stick. I go by the Solstice as well.
A lot! I live in what is known as the snow belt, that strip of land squeezed between two Great Lakes. This produces what’s called lake effect snow. It’s what happens when cold artic air passes over the yet unfrozen lakes, picking up lots of moisture. Once it hits the colder land mass it dumps all that moisture as snow. Lots, and lots of snow some years. I recall a year where the city had to be closed (no business or schools open, everybody stay home!) 4 times in one week! The first three days it snowed three feet each day!
But none of it very predictable, I’m afraid. We’ve also had our share of green Christmas’s. Sometimes it snows early and never warms enough for any melt back the whole season. Other times a great snow storm is followed by a warmup that sees it all disappear in a couple of days! Snow for Halloween! Check. Balmy weather for Valentine’s Day? Also check! Sometimes in the same year!
Nebraskaland here - we’re pretty dry out on the plains so the most snows are usually negligible. Once or twice a year I’ll have to break out the shovel and clean the sidewalks. With my natural walrus-like physique, I’m pretty immune to environmental cold so the changing of the seasons means very little to me. For me, winter starts the first time I look up into the night sky and notice Orion’s belt. That’s far more significant to me than anything the weatherman or the calendar says.
Well, I hate winter and I feel the tension building now. And to quote Lewis Black, fuck fall. Thursday was very warm and I felt overdressed. I went out last night in shorts and froze. Fuck fall.
Psst! Solstice!
But my opinion:
Summer: The hot months (June, July, August)
Winter: The cool months (December, January, February)
Spring: March, April, May
Fall: September, October, November