As Valentine’s Day approaches, the color of the moment is not red or pink, but blinding white. According to USA Today, an Oklahoma forecaster is predicting an unusual weather phenomenon—snow on the ground in all 50 states at the same time.
Patrick Marsh, who works at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Severe Storms Laboratory, says a winter storm passing through the southern U.S. Thursday and early Friday is predicted to leave measurable snowfall in the Deep South, including parts of the Florida Panhandle. A winter storm warning is in effect in the region. He says he’s unsure if such a weather phenomenon has ever occurred before.
I know what you’re thinking, snow in Hawaii?? According to Best Places Hawaii though, although the temperature in the lower areas stays in the 70s this time of year, there is a part of Hawaii that gets plenty of the white stuff. In fact, you can ski or snowboard on Mauna Kea (Hawaiian for white mountain) on the Big Island of Hawaii. The summit, which is over 13,500 feet high, gets a snow accumulation of up to a few meters during the winter months, and ski season can run from November through July. February and March are thought to be the best months for good snow there.
There’s even snow in Dallas, TX; February 11th went down in the record books as the snowiest day in Dallas-Fort Worth history. The official 24-hour snowfall: 11.2 inches!
Such a weather phenomenon (snow on ground in all 50 states) HAS occurred before – January 19th 1977, the day of the famous Miami snowfall. Those of us who remember weather in the 70s will recall news media’s headlines and angst over “Global Cooling”.
It should be noted that the snowfall in Florida today does NOT make it 50 states with snow on the ground at the same time. While the higher elevations have had snow this winter back in December, the ground is bare at the summits now.
Robert Ballard
Science & Operations Officer
National Weather Service Honolulu