WINTER REMEMBERED FOR SNOW AND COLD TEMPERATUES AT END

Overall, the winter of 1992-93 turned out to be about average, when compared with the 48 year, long-term average. But it will probably best be remembered for the heavy snows and record-low temperatures that occurred during the final two weeks of winter.

Snowfall this past winter was the heaviest here since 1979, and the first significant snowfall since February 1986, according to Al Robertson, climatologist and professor of geosciences at Southeast Missouri State University.

The past winter also saw the first sub-zero temperatures in the Cape Girardeau area since 1989, ending a string of generally mild winters.

For purposes of recording statistical weather data, the National Weather Service divides the four seasons into 90-day quarters.

Robertson says the average temperature for the winter of 1992-93 was 34.5 degrees, down .6 of a degree from the long-term average of 36 degrees. Precipitation during the same period was also near the long-term average, 10.68 inches compared to the long-term average of 10.05.

But Robertson said snowfall this past winter was the heaviest here in 14 years. Total snowfall during the period was 20.3 inches, compared to the long-term average of 7.6 inches.

The bulk of the snow came during two snowstorms in mid- and late February - producing a whopping 18.7 inches of snow. The first occurred Feb. 15, when residents were surprised by a storm that dumped 12.2 inches throughout most of the area. The second storm, on Feb. 25, dumped six inches on Cape Girardeau, with heavier amounts to the west and north of here. During December, 1.2 inches of snow fell at the airport, and only .4 of an inch was measured in January.

During most of the winter, the weather was generally cloudy and mild. December was warm, with above average temperatures. Toward the end of the month, afternoon highs climbed into the 60s. The low for December was 15 degrees.

"January started out cool, then really warmed up the rest of the month. The high for the month was 66, on Jan. 31," Robertson said. Like December, there were also a lot of cloudy, rainy days during the first half of the month.

February began where January left off, with temperatures continuing well above normal (6.6 degrees) during the first half of the month. Traditionally, the latter half of January and the early part of February is the coldest time of the year in Cape Girardeau.

On Feb. 10, the afternoon high soared to an early spring-like 65 degrees, and, for a time, it seemed the winter would turn out mild. Then, around mid-month, the path of the jet stream shifted, allowing very cold arctic air to push deep into Missouri for the first time.

The result was three new record daily lows, all set during the last half of the month. On Feb. 18, a new record low of -2 degrees broke the old record of 4 degrees, set in 1958, and tied in 1967. The record was set three days after the 12.2 inch snowstorm.

On Feb. 27, another record low was set when the temperature dropped to 10 degrees. That broke the old record of 16, set in 1960, and tied in 1963 and 1979.

The next morning, the low of 15 degrees set a new record for the day, breaking the old record of 17 degrees in 1962.

Robertson noted the -2 degrees on Feb. 18 was the first sub-zero reading here since December of 1989.

Because of the arctic outbreaks, the average temperature for the latter half of February plummeted to 26.9 degrees, down 13.2 degrees from the long-term average of 40.1 degrees.

Generally cloudy and seasonably cool temperatures have been the rule during the first week March. But the National Weather Service said things should begin to warm up as the area enters a dry period.

The weather service's 30-day outlook for March, and 90-day outlook through the end of May, both indicate near average temperatures and precipitation in the Cape Girardeau area.