The average March temperature in Rochester was 47.3 degrees.  This was a remarkable 13 degrees above average.

The average winter (December-January-February) temperature in Rochester was 32.4 degrees.  This placed the winter as the fifth warmest on record.  The warmest winter in Rochester history was in 1931-32 when the average temperature reached 34.5 degrees.  (The only noteworthy item to cheer if you are a winter weather fan was the above normal snowfall that was observed in February.)

Additionally, this past winter nationally also turned out to be the 5th warmest on record.

You thus might be surprised to learn that globally, this winter was the 11th coldest on record in the 34 year satellite record.

This is attributable to the fact that parts of Europe and Asia were breaking records for low temperatures and heavy snow, while we in the States were basking in the glow of a low winter sun.

Wind gusts have started knocking down trees and power lines in the Rochester area, with more powerful gusts expected overnight.

One large tree collapsed onto a house in Spencerport, and there have been several other reports of trees and lines down across the area.  Around 1,700 people were without power around 8:45 p.m., according to RG&E's website, most of them near Elmgrove Road in Greece.

The Rochester area is under High Wind Warning, and wind gusts could reach 50-60 miles per hour after midnight tonight.

For more Rochester, N.Y. news, visit our website www.whec.com 

When I shared some of our long range thoughts about the winter back in early December, I presented my rationale for suggesting that our best shot at serious and sustained winter weather this season would come in February.

If you are new to this blog I would ask you to read the previous blogs so as to help add perspective as to where we stand today and to acquaint yourself with some meteorological jargon.

Today we are going to take a look at the month of February.  

So, let’s see where we are:  During the first week of the month we will be in a +PNA pattern which means a warm and dry ridge will rule most of the west, while a cold and potentially wet trough will dominate much of the east.