By some measures (lows below zero) it was colder than last winter, but by others, it was not. Temperatures, overall, compared to normal, were nearly identical. Snowfall was less than last winter, but days with snowfall were close.
# of mornings Dec-Mar @ PSU <10 F: 2014-2015: 30 (none before Jan.) 2013-2014: 29 2012-2013: 4 # of mornings Dec-Mar @ PSU <=0 F: 2014-2015: 7 2013-2014: 9 2012-2013: 0 Days *Above* Normal @ PSU Dec-Feb: 2014-2015: 32% (19% before Jan.) 2013-2014: 30% 2012-2013: 54% Lowest Temp This Winter: -8 (Coldest Since 2014's -9) Days with Snow Dec-Feb: 2014-2015: 60 (67%) only 10 days without snow Jan. 3 - Mar. 3! 2013-2014: 63 (70%) 2012-2013: 48 (53%) Days with Snow Cover Dec-Feb: 2014-2015: 48 (53%) no days without snow cover Jan. 20 - Mar. ?! 2013-2014: 61 (68%) 2012-2013: 32 (36%) Snow cover from Due to the unusually cold winter this season versus last, Penn State recorded 63 days (70%) with at least a trace of snow, and 61 days (68%) with at least an inch of snow cover this winter (90 days Dec-Feb). Last winter those numbers were 48 (53%) and 32 (36%). In other words: The number of days with snow cover was nearly twice this season versus last!
The official PSU temperature stats for the last three winters are shown below; overall, this winter was nearly identical to last winter's departure from normal!
In addition to the temperature record mentioned above, 1994 was quite a winter. Harrisburg had at least 1" of snow on the ground for 71 consecutive days, which established a new record (this year they only had 45 non-consecutive). 1994's streak continued until they had 75 consecutive days, ending on March 20th. At Penn State, however, 1994's snow cover lasted from January 3 to March 31 (88 consecutive days!) And of course, that snow year (July 1993 - June 1994) set the record of 109.3" here in State College (as well as the Annual Snowfall at 102.6").
