Warmest Winter Ever?

It wasn't the warmest winter on record in Florida.  It only seemed that way.  February is gone, and the non-winter of 2011 - 2012 went into the history books as the 4th warmest in United States history, according to NOAA's National Climatic Data Center.

The average temperature this winter of 36.8° F was only 0.4° F cooler than the warmest winter on record (1999 - 2000).   In the Northern Plains, Midwest, Southeast and Northeast, it seemed like winter never arrived this year.  27 states in this region recorded top-ten warmest winters.  Florida was among those states with its 9th warmest winter on record.  Reliable records only go back 117 years . . . regardless. . .it was unusually warm.

According to NOAA's Climate Extremes Index, the percent area of the United States experiencing extremes in warm maximum temperatures (top 10% on record) was 49 percent--the 4th highest value since the index began being computed in 1911. 

Low Snow Accumulations

Warm and dry conditions during the winter of 2011 - 2012 led to snow cover extent that was the 3rd lowest in the 46-year satellite record, according to data from the Rutgers Global Snow Lab. Snowfall was particularly low across parts of the West, where much of California, Nevada, and Arizona had a snowpack less than half of average. Fortunately, the West had a near-record snowpack the previous winter, so this year's lack on snow will not cause serious water availability problems during the summer.

Moonrise on the Atlantic Coast of Florida, March 2012.

Moonrise on the Atlantic Coast of Florida, March 2012, with sea oats.

In the Upper Midwest, the lack of a winter snowpack will substantially reduce the chances of spring flooding along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. NOAA issues their annual spring flood outlook on March 15, and it is likely to show a much lower risk of flooding compared to last year, when 1-in-100 to 1-in-500 year floods hit much of the Missouri and Lower Mississippi rivers. However, the remarkably low snow cover this winter over the Upper Midwest will allow soils to dry out much more quickly than usual, leading to increased chances of summer drought. 

The latest Drought Monitor map shows moderate to severe drought covering nearly all of Minnesota and Northwest Iowa; these regions are at high risk of suffering damaging drought conditions during the summer growing season. 

In parts of Florida the drought is severe.  We're currently located in the "D3 -- Severe" category.  Lakes are completely dry throughout the area.  To our north across the northern peninsula of Florida the drought is now rated as "Extreme."

A cool front approaching from the north gave us a few sprinkles of rain this afternoon and evening.  Nothing to get too excited about, however.  I was working in the sand and it got just wet enough to make the sand stick to my shoes, pants, hands. . . camera. . . everything.

For more Moonrise photos go to

PHILLIP'S NATURAL WORLD 3.0