My last article posted back in January suggested the snow-less winter we had through the middle of January might change to a more active pattern by early February. Obviously, that never happened.  Since late January, only three measurable snowfalls occurred. In total since December, our area has received about 8.5 inches of precipitation; nearly half the normal amount, and temperatures have averaged over four degrees above average.

Looking ahead, what seems obvious to most of us is true…It’s safe to say that the winter of 2011/2012 is over. Although March and April snowstorms are common in the Harlem Valley, with the official start of spring arriving on Tuesday, March 20, no snow is expected through the end of March.

In many respects, this winter season was unusual in that it was warm and dry. Typically, the opposite occurs. A warm winter is usually accompanied by higher than normal precipitation, while winters with below normal temperatures result in less.

The National Weather Service’s 90 day outlook through the end of May is for temperatures and precipitation to be near normal levels, but Mother Nature, in time, likes to even the score, so payback may not be that far off, but I guess only time will tell!

Mike Shustak is a meteorologist for Universal Weather and Aviation, in Teterboro, New Jersey