When first day of winter occurs depends upon your point of view

The first day of winter season can mean various days to different people. The definitions of “Meteorological winter” and “astronomical winter” involve different points of view. Technical terms aside, winter’s arrival in real life is quite easy to determine.

1st morning of winter this year

The first morning of winter season this year is Dec. 1 from a meteorological standpoint. December 21, 2010 is shown on the calendar to be the first morning of astronomical winter season or the winter season solstice. This year, explanations for winter weren't what the weather waited for. It started all on its own. As of Dec. 1, a fantastic deal of the United States had already experienced a few weeks of big snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures. The primary influence on winter weather this year is a phenomenon called La Nina. La Nina is a drop in ocean temperatures across the equatorial Pacific. La Nina brings harsh winter season conditions across the northern U.S.

1st morning of winter occurs twice

The meteorological winter season started when the northern hemisphere got into its coldest temperatures on average. Dec. 1 was when this happened. The coldest climate corresponds with the shortest days, commencing in November and extending through January. In January, the snow pack really helps the atmosphere to stay cooler which is why the coldest part of the meteorological winter season is typically then. Dec. 21st is when the astronomical winter could be starting up. That is as the northern hemisphere could be having its shortest period of daylight. After the solstice, days commence getting longer going forward and meteorological winter’s days are numbered. The astronomical winter will not end until March 21, 2011. This will be when the vernal equinox happens.

What winter season climate looks like for 2010-11

Spring tends to be coming too late and winter coming too early. This is mostly for those places where short daylight and weather affect them. Accuweather.com accounts the Northwest, Great Plains, Good Lakes and New England will see winter climate the worst. There can be way more than normal ice and snow. This is just in these areas. Go south if you need relief. From CA all the way to the Southeast a "non-winter" is forecasted.

Citations

Archeoastronomy.com

archaeoastronomy.com/2011.shtml

Accuweather.com

accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/40340/accuweathercom-winter-forecast-1.asp

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter