In just 26 short days, this Winter Break featured the whole kitchen sink of weather, including multiple unexpected twists and turns. However, the break can generally be characterized by frequent glancing blows from storms and slow but pronounced intrusions of progressively colder air. 

The break started off unseasonably warm in St. Louis, as it did nearly everywhere else in the country in late December. From Dec. 21 to Dec. 26, high and low temperatures surged to 10-25 degrees above normal, as a northward bulge in the jet stream over much of the country allowed for mild Pacific and even Gulf air to flow into the lower 48. Temperatures surged to an astounding 68 degrees on Christmas Eve. Furthermore, multiple storm systems brought much-needed rain, each delivering a renewed push of mild Gulf air.

Between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1, the jet stream was slowly dragged south by a succession of storms. Temperatures fluctuated daily during this period, but still remained generally above average, and rainfalls remained frequent, albeit light.

Into early January, from Jan. 2 to Jan. 9, colder air and snow flakes were finally able to work into the region. Multiple storms brushed by our area, including one that brought a modest 2.5 inches of snow on the fifth and sixth of the month. Light snow was also observed on both Jan. 8 and Jan. 9. Nonetheless, temperatures remained at near average.

After a quick respite on Jan. 10 and Jan. 11, a massive storm on the twelfth and thirteenth of the month ushered in a plunge of arctic air, marking perhaps the most dramatic pattern shift this winter. Temperatures plummeted to near record low values this past weekend, with last Saturday’s low dropping to 6 degrees below zero, and Sunday’s high reaching a measly 1 degree. Dustings of snow fell on both Friday and Saturday.

So here we are, at the start of spring semester, returning to classes in the midst of the most prolonged and potent arctic blast in years. We left for break on an unseasonably warm note, and returned on an unseasonably cold one. We left for break in the midst of frequent storms, and returned in the middle of a long dry spell. 

Unfortunately for snow lovers, the story of this winter has been that moisture and cold air have yet to really combine, leading to a lack of any substantial snowfall. In other words, it has been wet when it is too warm to snow, and dry when it is cold enough. This conundrum looks to continue, as moisture will finally surge into the region right after significantly milder air sets in by early next week. Until then, we can keep expecting cold and dry winter days.