Snow Accumulation Season

Snow accumulation season is the season of drift growth, beginning with the first blowing snow event that causes drifts persisting through the winter, and ending when snowdrifts reach their maximum volume (Tabler 1994).

Onset Date
Map of Minnesota showing the average start date for the first blowing snow event causing drifts that remain persistent throught the winter. Southern parts of the state are end of November and northern parts are end of October

Onset Date

Average start date for the first blowing snow event causing drifts that remain persistent throughout the winter. The product was generated using methodology of Tabler and based on the 1971–1996 mean monthly temperature records.

End Date
Map of Minnesota with the end date of the Snow Accumulation Season indicated in green shading, with the southern end of the state ending earlier than the north and the northeast parts of the state

End Date

Average end date for the period of persistent drifting in which snowdrifts reach maximum volume. The product was generated using methodology of Tabler and based on the 1971–1996 mean monthly temperature records.

Tabler Methodology

The snow accumulation season is indicated by the time period in which the average air temperature reaches the freezing point, 0° C (Tabler 1994). The beginning and ending dates are found using the following equation, based on mean monthly temperatures:

Equation used to find the onset and end dates for the snow accumulation season

T+ and T- are the mean monthly temperatures of the warmer (above 0° C) and colder (below 0° C) months, respectively. The equation yields a number of days, n, which is added to the middle of the warmer month for the onset date, and subtracted from the middle of the warmer month for the end date.

Reference

Tabler, R.D., 1994. Design Guidelines for the Control of Blowing and Drifting Snow, Strategic Highway Research Program, Washington D.C., 364 pp.