| On Sunday, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter. What a winter it has been so far. A look back at this January’s weather stats found that it has been snowier and colder than normal. According to data provided by the National Weather Service’s station at Venango Regional airport, there were a few days that stood out for higher snowfalls. On Jan. 4 there were four inches of snow followed by two inches on Jan. 7 and three inches on Jan. 11. Additional traces of snow added up to a total of 19.2 inches of snow for Franklin for January which was above the normal average of 17.9 inches of snow for Franklin. Meanwhile, the average temperature for this January for Franklin was five degrees below the normal of 33.7 degrees. According to National Weather Service data, a high of 12 degrees was recorded on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22. The high of 12 on Jan. 21 matched a high of 2008 and the high of 12 on Jan. 22 matched a high set in 2014. The National Weather Service’s station recorded a low on Jan. 22 of -8 degrees. According to data, this was the coldest low for Jan. 22 in the past 25 years. |   |
Allegheny River at Oil City
Meanwhile, a warmup on Jan. 30 prompted some concern about ice jams on area rivers.
” Expect a warmup over the next couple of days as our air will be coming out of the south rather than Canada. This warmup will continue the process of melting the snow on the ground and the ice on the rivers.
A slow and steady melting is what we need to prevent flooding issues. However, a storm system will move northeastward from the south-central US this afternoon and cross our area Friday evening.
This system will bring widespread rain to the area beginning late tonight and continuing into early Saturday morning. ... At this time, no points on any of the rivers are forecasted to reach flood stage. But we also need to keep an eye on local streams as well.,” the National Weather Service’s office in Pittsburgh posted on Facebook on the morning of Jan. 30.
” Expect a warmup over the next couple of days as our air will be coming out of the south rather than Canada. This warmup will continue the process of melting the snow on the ground and the ice on the rivers.
A slow and steady melting is what we need to prevent flooding issues. However, a storm system will move northeastward from the south-central US this afternoon and cross our area Friday evening.
This system will bring widespread rain to the area beginning late tonight and continuing into early Saturday morning. ... At this time, no points on any of the rivers are forecasted to reach flood stage. But we also need to keep an eye on local streams as well.,” the National Weather Service’s office in Pittsburgh posted on Facebook on the morning of Jan. 30.
Oil Creek at Oil City
Photos taken Jan. 31 in Oil City, showed no threat of an ice jam.
There appeared to be clear channels for the water to pass through.
The water level gauge on the Allegheny River at West Hickory reported a steady river level at 3.3 feet until Jan. 21 when it climbed to and peaked at 7.75 feet on Jan. 23. It had slowly fallen to 6.35 feet as of Feb. 2.
The gauge on Oil Creek at Rouseville was at 2.67 feet on Jan. 31 and had reached 3.67 feet by Feb. 1.
Meanwhile the Allegheny River gauge at Franklin was steadily growing from 3.65 feet on Jan. 31 to 4.8 feet on Feb. 2.
In drought news, Venango County has no current drought conditions. However, the western portion of Forest County was still labeled as abnormally dry by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
There appeared to be clear channels for the water to pass through.
The water level gauge on the Allegheny River at West Hickory reported a steady river level at 3.3 feet until Jan. 21 when it climbed to and peaked at 7.75 feet on Jan. 23. It had slowly fallen to 6.35 feet as of Feb. 2.
The gauge on Oil Creek at Rouseville was at 2.67 feet on Jan. 31 and had reached 3.67 feet by Feb. 1.
Meanwhile the Allegheny River gauge at Franklin was steadily growing from 3.65 feet on Jan. 31 to 4.8 feet on Feb. 2.
In drought news, Venango County has no current drought conditions. However, the western portion of Forest County was still labeled as abnormally dry by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
  | Monday, Feb. 3, didn’t deliver any precipitation but it did bring temperatures about 20 degrees below normal for this time of year. The Climate Prediction Center’s outlook for Feb. 7-11 showed near normal temperatures and a chance of above average precipitation. The center’s outlook for Feb. 9-15, was a little different. It called for a slight chance of below normal temperatures but was also calling for a chance of above average. As if the groundhog’s news wasn’t bad enough, the region might face a significant icing event Wednesday night into Thursday morning of this week. Nonetheless, the wintry weather provided many photo opportunities for me. A morning walk on Jan. 10 yielded awesome lighting for frost photos. The crystals had grown overnight in single digit lows. The dry and frigid air pulled the moisture out of branches and soil to create wonderous works of art. The scenery changed daily as temperatures plummeted and then warmed again. On Jan. 21, the small creek feeding the neighbor’s pond was open and flowing. On Jan. 22, it was frozen solid. We could walk across it. Then by Feb. 1, there was open water again with a sketchy looking ice bridge. |
The freeze and thaw cycle created some interesting ice formations on the area streams.
American tree sparrow
Meanwhile, the cold weather drove man birds to the feeder. Winter visitors included American tree sparrows, goldfinches, woodpeckers, dark-eyed juncos and more.
Meanwhile, the cold weather drove man birds to the feeder. Winter visitors included American tree sparrows, goldfinches, woodpeckers, dark-eyed juncos and more. Also at the feeders, there was a gray squirrel or two.
In the woods, bluebirds and other feathered friends were busy feeding on winterberries.
Meanwhile, the cold weather drove man birds to the feeder. Winter visitors included American tree sparrows, goldfinches, woodpeckers, dark-eyed juncos and more. Also at the feeders, there was a gray squirrel or two.
In the woods, bluebirds and other feathered friends were busy feeding on winterberries.
 Bluebird | |
The deer were working hard to uncover the acorns that they hadn’t consumed in the fall.
However, the winter weather that created beautiful scenery can contribute to hardships like power outages and treacherous travel.
However, the winter weather that created beautiful scenery can contribute to hardships like power outages and treacherous travel.
That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
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