Weather World: Guess how much snow Tulsa will get and win a prize
BY JERRY WOFFORD World Staff Writer
Thursday, November 29, 2012
11/29/12 at 4:03 AM
Snowmageddon or nothing? You decide: It's the first Weather World snowfall contest.
After the winter of 2010-2011, I expected/hoped last winter would be an actual winter.
Instead, we went from the snowiest winter on record in Tulsa to one of Tulsa's least snowy.
It begs the question: How much snow will Tulsa have this winter?
So we're asking you. Tell me, and whoever is closest will win a prize!
It's the first ever Tulsa World Weather World blog contest! Here is how it works:
You tell me how much snow will be recorded at the National Weather Service office in Tulsa between now and March 31 to the nearest tenth of an inch. Whoever is closest will win! What, you ask? A prize!
The person who guesses closest will win a fancy weather radio, which is appropriate because it will be awarded at the end of winter, also known as the beginning of severe weather season.
What you need to do is email me at jerry.wofford@tulsaworld.com with your guess to the nearest 0.1 inch, your name and a way to contact you other than email. Also send us your real name if it's OK for us to print, or tell us if that's not OK.
The winner will be announced in April and will not only win a weather radio, but bragging rights for a whole year on this weather blog.
So how are you supposed to know how much snow we will get? I'm no wizard (and if you are, NO CHEATING), but I can give you some history of snow in Tulsa and what some of the forecasts are for this winter to guide your guess.
This page from the National Weather Service gives you more than enough historical data from Tulsa. Here are some high points:
The average going back more than 100 years is 9.6 inches.
The snowiest winter was the winter of 2010-2011, when 26.1 inches piled up.
The snowiest year was in 1958, with 29.6 inches.
The most snow to fall on Christmas was 1.3 inches in 1975. The last white Christmas (at least 1 inch of snow on the ground) was 2009.
The Climate Prediction Center's long-term forecasts can give some guidance, but they aren't the definitive answer. The three-month outlook has Tulsa in the area with chances of above-normal temperatures this winter. Tulsa is also on the edge of an increased chance of above-average precipitation.
All that being said, weather is weather, and it is nearly impossible to predict over the long term. So ... guess! Tell me what you think. And tell your friends to tell me what they think.
Remember you can always check what the experts are saying here, thanks to the wonderful partnership we have with the National Weather Service office here in Tulsa.
I will shut down guesses on Dec. 7, unless we get snow between now and then (not likely). So, break out the slide rule and give me your best educated guess. For what it's worth, I'm going with 7.6 inches. Bam.
Original Print Headline: Guess how much snow Tulsa gets, win a prize
Associated Images:
Kids sled down the hill behind Harweldon on Feb. 2, 2011, after a record snowfall hit Tulsa. How much snow will Tulsa have this winter? Email your guess to jerry.wofford@tulsaworld.com. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World file
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