February threw one massive snowball at Prince George as a 2011 parting shot. Sunday had the biggest dump of snow - 23 cm or nine inches - of any February day in recorded local history (Prince George Airport measuring station).
"What a difference a year makes," said Environment Canada meteorologist Jim Steele. "February 2010: mild and dry. February 2011: cold and wet."
What a difference even four weeks makes. February started off on the high side of freezing, with a bit of rain. Other than a small cold snap, it was mild right up through Valentine's Day when a new cold front moved in on Feb. 15.
"The colder period provided the setup for frequent snow events," said Steele. "These events cumulated on the 26th and 27th with ample Pacific moisture riding over the cold arctic air to produce 7 cm late on the 26th and a whopping 23 cm on the 27th. The snowfall on the 27th established a new monthly snowfall record for any single day in February."
It blew the old benchmark for that date, 13 cm, completely away, and nipped by the previous mark for any given February day (it was 22.9 cm) set back in 1954. The 12.4 cm of snowfall also broke a precipitation record for that date by four cm. It had stood since 1974).
"Into the record books, brrr, cold and wet," Steele said.
And February Made Me Shiver, With Every Paper I'd Deliver (the past month's measurements)...
Temperatures
Average daily high of -5.4 was below the normal of -0.8 degrees C.
Average daily low of -14.4 was below the normal of -10.0 degrees C.
Mean temperature of -9.9 was below the normal -5.4 degrees C.
Warmest Day: on the 14th with a maximum temperature of 6.1 degrees.
Coldest day: on the 19th with an overnight minimum of -34.1 degrees.
Precipitation
Total precipitation of 62.1 mm was 197 per cent of the normal of 31.4 mm.
Total Snowfall of 80.1 cm was 266 per cent of the normal of 30.1 cm.
Total rainfall of 10.4 mm was 144 per cent of the normal of 7.2 mm.
Measurable precipitation on 13 days was right on the normal of 13 days.
Greatest snowfall, one day: 23 cm on the 27th.
Greatest rainfall, one day: 3.5 mm on the 3rd.
Records set in Feb. 2011
Greatest snowfall in one February day: 23 cm (previous record 22.9 cm in 1954).
Greatest snowfall for the date of Feb. 27 at 23 cm (previous record was 13 cm).
Greatest precipitation for Feb. 6 at 12.4 mm (old record 8.4 mm in 1974).
No daily or monthly temperature records were established this month.
