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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW AHS breaks ground on new field ... Jackson County elected officials to get pay raises ... Making ancient stories new again ... AHS breaks ground on new field ... Jackson County elected officials to get pay raises ... Making ancient stories new again ... WEATHER OR NOT Water-wise, it was a good winter Comment By Doyle Hirsch DailyTidings.com By Doyle Hirsch Posted Mar. 28, 2016 at 8:31 PM By Doyle Hirsch Posted Mar. 28, 2016 at 8:31 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Decemberest December in 30 years • Weather or Not: Add a fifth season to the calendar — smoke... • Weather or Not: June in Redding — er, I mean Ashland • Ashland spring weather summary: boring • A look back at so-called 'winter' » Social News "Now is the winter of our discontent." —Richard III Sorry Richard. This winter has brought a whole lot of contentment to a wide variety of folks: from ski resorts to irrigators to water masters to well users to forest managers to people who are tired of breathing in smoke during the summer and probably a host of others. This "Godzilla-niño" has brought ample precipitation this year after a string of dry winters that left us relying on wet springs to save our collective hinies. It's about time! Both calendar year (28.73") and water year (11.80") were well above normal. Actually, I outta begin with a definition of what "winter" really is, because there are three definitions: 1) Solar — defined as the period of least radiation from the sun, comprised of November, December and January. 2) Astronomical — the conventional definition which had religious significance to the pagans and goes from the December solstice to the March equinox and is considered the "official " winter. Just as a note — the coldest temps I've recorded in my 30 years at this location have occurred before the official start of winter. 3) Meteorological winter — December, January and February, inclusive. And the one I use exclusively. The ample precipitation was not evenly distributed. There was a steep slope to the x-axis with each of the two months after December showing deep drops: Normal 2015/16 December 4.44" 9.98" January 2.79" 5.71" February 3.09" 1.77" Incidentally, January, which had always been the second-wettest month, has become the fourth wettest after February and March over the last 10 years(the average I use). Got no clue as to why. Other observations: • The 13-plus inches of snow I received on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14 was the greatest 24-hour snowfall I've recorded at this location. • The lack of any arctic front was much appreciated. Snow storms are usually followed by cold weather here and since the city won't plow my street (they insist it's not in their jurisdiction, despite being in the middle of a residential area) it can be a real mess. Luckily the snow melted off quickly. • The warm winter was good for utility bills and also good for annoying insects. Plan on a bumper crop of ants and yellow jackets. The following are some stats for the winter you might find interesting. Us usual, your numbers may very considerably. • Highest temp — 73 degrees (Feb. 8) • Lowest temp — 27 degrees (Dec. 25) • Number of days at or below freezing — 26 • Number of days with wind speed greater than 25 mph — 41 • Highest wind gust — 55 mph (Dec. 5) • Most precipitation in 24 hours — 2.53 inches (Dec. 13-14) • Most snowfall in 24 hours — 13 inches (Dec. 13-14) • Total winter snowfall this year — 21 inches • Total winter snowfall last year — 0 inches • Number of days with morning fog — Six • Number of days completely foggy — Zero • Total winter precip — 17.46 inches • Normal winter precip. — 10.32 inches • Last year winter precip. — 13.33 inches (thanks to a wet Feburary, 6.91 inches). But we had a very dry spring that negated the above-normal winter. And February 2015 was warm with little or no snow at mid-elevation. Weather or Not by Ashland weather statistician Doyle Hirsch appears periodically. By Doyle Hirsch DailyTidings.com By Doyle Hirsch Posted Mar. 28, 2016 at 8:31 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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