White Christmas and active gulf hurricane season

[PTPatrick]

Ok, I am no expert by any means and I am going mostly on anicdotal evidence...

Having hedged approriately, I was wondering if it had dawned on anybody that the gulf states from Texas to Mississippi had had a white Christmas this year. We in Pascagoula, MS recieved a thin layer of ice and about 1/2 of snow on christmas. I have often heard that cold winters have been linked to busy hurricane seasons. In fact reasearch by Idso et al. and (others I believe) have found a negative correlation between northern hemisphere temps and hurricanes...ie colder years in the northern hemisphere yield more hurricanes.

Of course there is the idea of which I have read frequently by JB that hurricanes take heat from the tropics and redistribute it north.

I spoke to my dad about it and he agreed. When he was young the period from 1949 to 1969 there were more frequent storms, or at least more frequent big ones. He says it "seemed" like winters were much colder when he was young. He has often said that only years that compared to his childhood cold spells were the freeze of 1989 and 1982. He says he saw snow, here in Pascagoula a number times as a child, but it never snowed in the 70s or 80s. Now, measurable snow has fallen in this area 3 times in the past 13 years.

So what I am getting at. It seems like there really is something to this whole cold winter and southern snow there relating to bad hurricane seasons. It seems particularly interesting that there was a huge gulf snow storm this past christmas and now we are having a crazy gulf hurricane seeason.

[WaryEye]

Hey thanks for that post... I asked something similar last night and over 100 people viewed my question but not one replied... as a newbie I can't say I felt very welcomed. I agree with you. I have always thought there was a correlation but was not sure.

[stormie_skies]

Hey thanks for that post... I asked something similar last night and over 100 people viewed my question but not one replied... as a newbie I can't say I felt very welcomed. I agree with you. I have always thought there was a correlation but was not sure.

Don't feel that way, Wary! I saw your comment but was on my way out and didn't have time to say anything...

Sometimes when everyone is chasing a storm, threads can get looked over. Happens to all of us. That doesnt mean youre not welcome, cuz you are!

[Brent]

Andrew in August 1992 and then the Blizzard in March 1993.

[WaryEye]

Thanks stormie... I've mostly just lurked as I am fascinated by weather and have much respect for so many of you here, pros and amateurs with so much knowledge. I thought I'd try to jump in now and then but was left feeling like a dork I guess.

[stormie_skies]

Thanks stormie... I've mostly just lurked as I am fascinated by weather and have much respect for so many of you here, pros and amateurs with so much knowledge. I thought I'd try to jump in now and then but was left feeling like a dork I guess.

I understand completely. I lurked too, until a storm was getting a little too close to home and I couldn't not post anymore... I've learned so much from the people in here....and for the most part, everyone is very friendly. So dont be shy! Jump in whenever ya like...

[cajungal]

Actually, I posted a thread about it awhile back. We also had an inch of snow for Christmas Day. The winter before the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, snow piled on the beaches there also.

[Steve]

Last time it snowed here for Christmas was 1954 (a Bastardi analog). But it also snowed here in 1988 and 1973, neither of which (from my memory) had much action, though I think we might have gotten a storm in 88 (Florence) that came right across New Orleans gusting into the 60's.

Steve

[BigO]

If there was a record for posting to threads and killing them, I figure I'd be in contention for the award ceremony.

Don't sweat it. Stuff happens.

[jdray]

Doesn't seem to work for Florida:

Jacksonville, Florida
Christmas of 1989, 2+ inches of snow, 2+ inches of ice. Snow on the ground for 3+ days.


Hurricane Season 1990:
TS Marco hits the Pandhandle with 50mph winds.

14 storms
14/8/1

10 fish, the other 4 did little damage.

[PTPatrick]

I know there are certainly years that it doesnt really work. but I think if you look at the overall period of say1949-1969 and compare that with the 70's and 80's...you might find the general trend of more and stronger hurricanes on average, and more snow in the south and colder winters east of the rockies overall.