The Tug Hill Commission recently completed a new issue paper, “How Winter is Changing in the Tug Hill Region,” because the region is experiencing notable changes in its winter seasons. The Tug Hill region is historically known for its heavy snowfall patterns and prime winter conditions for outdoor recreation. More recently, communities in the region have experienced a wide array of changing winter conditions. Winter events are often postponed or canceled, and winter recreation has been unreliable at times because of snowfall uncertainty. This winter season has felt like a more “normal” winter, but last season received far less snowfall.
The paper seeks to inform readers about changes in Tug Hill winters by presenting data analysis from four stations located around the Tug Hill region: Bennetts Bridge, Boonville, Highmarket, and Lowville. Average maximum (high) and minimum (low) air temperatures and snowfall data were examined over a 50-year period. The paper is designed to educate readers about the differences between weather and climate, understand climate data and where it comes from, learn about the importance of climate normals, learn about how winter is changing in the Tug Hill region, discuss why these changes are occurring, and discuss what this all means for the communities in the region.
This paper can be useful for a variety of groups, including those focused on recreation, planning, emergency services, and the environment, to help understand the history of winter seasons and what the future may entail. The paper is available to read on our website here. Please feel free to read our other technical and issues papers, also located on our website. If you have any questions, please contact Jillian Lee at [email protected] or 315-785-2406.