MAJOR SNOWFALL EVENTS IN THE GREAT PLAINS: TEMPORAL ASPECTS AND RELATIVE IMPORTANCE

The purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding of the spatial and temporal aspects of central Great Plains snowstorms by: (1) identifying trends in the frequency of snow events, (2) determining the relative importance of significant snowfalls (those producing snowfall amounts of 10 cm or more), and (3) identifying temporal and/or latitudinal variations in the frequency of significant snowstorms. Using NCDC data from cooperative program weather stations along a north-south transect, summary statistics, correlation coefficients, and frequency histograms were generated. The results provided evidence of a highly variable spatial and temporal record. Significant snowstorms are more critical to total snowfall amounts in Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. Although strong, regionally coherent temporal trends were not detected, a predominance of January through March snow events was observed. The greater frequency of January snowstorms coincides with the mean position of the polar front, while February and March snowfall frequency reflects the increased incidence of Colorado cyclones. Decadally, snowfall variability corresponds with a change in mean temperatures and predominant upper atmospheric flow that occurred around 1950. This change brought less snow to the Southern and Central Plains states, but more snow to the north. Key words: snowfall, Great Plains, temporal/spatial variability.]