Analyzing Snowfall Trends in the Ohio River Valley using the Temporal Synoptic Index

Keywords: Snowfall, Climate, Kentucky, TSI
Abstract Type: Virtual Guided Poster Abstract

Abstract

Snowfall evaluation and trends were studied using techniques from the Temporal Synoptic Index (TSI) over the Ohio Valley Region centered around Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Understanding the ongoing changes of snowfall intensity and occurrences is an important concept to grasp. The need to comprehend the ongoing characteristics of snow-producing events to better predict what any given future winter season holds is viable for numerous reasons, but most importantly in terms of allocating funds for disaster relief and snow removal processes. Using past records of snowfall accumulation and the TSI, temporal trends can be researched and analyzed to determine ongoing changes in snow events. The goal of this project is to study temporal trends of snowfall in the Ohio Valley region and use TSI to analyze the changes that are projected to be seen. It is anticipated that snowfall event intensity will rise within states such as Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia due to an increase in low pressure systems on a seasonal basis moving across the region from the Rocky Mountains. It is expected that over the time frame, snowfall events in the southern region will not differ notably from an average winter season. This is generally due to temperatures still being above freezing which would cause precipitation to fall in rain rather than snow.