Ranking the Best winter events of the century

[PortKells]

Just for fun, and to get myself pumped for this coming winter...

Ive been wondering how everyone might rank the best winter events and/or overall winters of this (somewhat underwhelming) century so far. One reason is I'm curious where December 2021 ranks to people, being probably my favorite since I moved here and started paying attention. Another is im curious what criteria people prioritize - aka snow depth, length of time, time of year, extreme lows, etc.

My list is biased as I only moved to Vancouver in 2011. However I am aware of how impactful events like 2006 were so I will try my best. Those who were here 2000-2006 could give a more accurate list. However it seems generally agreed on that era sucked big time.

People might define winter events differently, which is fine. Or you might want to rank winters as a whole. Or even go back way further, which I can't do but have at er. Here is my list.

1. Dec. 2008 - in its own league. Despite living in Kelowna I was lucky enough to be down here visiting my then gf at UBC. Seeing that campus buried in snow was an absolute joy. We went down to rec beach in a light flurry and there was a native drum and singing circle going on, it was absolutely magical. Another day we got lost on campus since nothing looked remotely familiar and we ended up stumbling onto the set of what I believe was X-Men.

2. December 2021 - incredible. Impeccable timing as it arrives on Christmas eve. A solid 10 cm to start, followed by crazy lows of -15, snowing at -12, a big dump of champagne powder on December 30. Then a follow up blast with the infamous snow and ice storm on January 8. One downside was the aftermath of just pure ice on every surface for 4-5 days, absolutely treacherous.

3. November 2006. An absolutely bonkers surprised blizzard followed by a true arctic blast. Wish I'd been here.

4. February 2017. 30-80 cm of snow followed by a solid blast of arctic air. No extreme lows but just a beautiful week in the lower mainland. Everyone got hit, especially the valley. Big win for the GEM.

5. December 2016/Jan 2017. Kind of a redemption event after 2 snowless years, and what a redemption it was. It just never wanted to end. However spotty snow cover and lack of true cold holds it back. But having a white Christmas was spectacular that year. I must admit I also enjoyed the pandemonium of it all, with the salt wars being the most memorable part.

6. February 2014 - I was on tour with my band during the big blizzard but most people got nailed. I was in the interior and out to Banff where it was -30. I got so sick but still what an event that was.

7. February 2019 - kind of a weird one. Very long and torturous wait for snow with Seattle getting destroyed with 40+cm. However us in the southern sections eventually got nailed, I probably got at least 30cm of extremely fine powder that lasted for 4 days. Unfortunately northern sections were basically high and dry. Went well into March with higher elevations on the north side eventually getting nailed.

8. February 2018 - a very solid event to redeem a very disappointing winter here. A good 20+ cms of very powder snow across the LM.

9. January 2020 - deep powdery snow for 3 days, very dynamic. Unfortunately too short lived and not up to the crazy expectations as per the gloofus. For what it was, a lot of fun. Important to note, it was an oasis in a sea of January disappointments.

10. March 2002. I wasn't here but many folks speak fondly of it so I would rather include it in the list.

Honourable mentions:

December 2017. I was in Kelowna. Wow. Must've been a metre of powder. It never stopped snowing for like 5 days. However the lower mainland got stiffed which was unfortunate.

November 2017. I was in Cumberland for a music festival, right place right time. It snowed all day and night, picked up 15 cms and what a vibe that night.

[Typeing3]

1. December 2008
2. December 2021
3. December 2016
4. November 2006
5. February 2017
6. February 2019
7. November 2010
8. January 2020
9. February 2018
10. January 2004
11. January 2007
12. February 2011
13. January 2012
14. March 2002
15. January 2005
16. January 2002
17. December 2012
18. December 2013
19. February 2014
20. December 2017
21. December 2007
22. December 2009

[SouthSardiswx]

1. December 2008
2. December 2021
3. December 2016
4. November 2006
5. February 2017
6. February 2019
7. November 2010
8. January 2020
9. February 2018
10. January 2004
11. January 2007
12. February 2011
13. March 2002
14. January 2005
15. January 2002
16. December 2012
17. December 2013
18. February 2014
19. December 2017
20. December 2007
21. December 2009

Eggcellent choices Tdata, as an old timer can l throw in honorable mention to 71/72 the whole winter.
And of course December 96.

[Typeing3]

Eggcellent choices Tdata, as an old timer can l throw in honorable mention to 71/72 the whole winter.
And of course December 96.

Criteria is this century, so only years after 2001 count.

December 1971 and December 1996 would definitely be in my list of best events in the 20th century.

[Abby_wx]

I never thought to actually rank them, but I think most of us would agree on the top five. December 2008 is the obvious shoo-in for number one, but the order of the other four is debatable.

January 2012 is a memorable one for the valley that frequently gets overlooked.

I'll admit I had to look up both January 2002 and March 2002. My recollection of any winter events from 1999 to 2003 is pretty blurry, probably because there was so little of note during that time.

[SouthSardiswx]

I never thought to actually rank them, but I think most of us would agree on the top five. December 2008 is the obvious shoo-in for number one, but the order of the other four is debatable.

January 2012 is a memorable one for the valley that frequently gets overlooked.

I'll admit I had to look up both January 2002 and March 2002. My recollection of any winter events from 1999 to 2003 is pretty blurry, probably because there was so little of note during that time.

Yes 2008 agreed Abby Sr. January 2012 TBH was a non event for Maple Ridge other than the cold 12cm l remember measuring.
2016/2017 would be second, 2017/2018 third after that it drops off.

[Typeing3]

Yes 2008 agreed Abby Sr. January 2012 TBH was a non event for Maple Ridge other than the cold 12cm l remember measuring.
2016/2017 would be second, 2017/2018 third after that it drops off.

In terms of specific months though, you'd have December 2017, January 2018, or February 2018 over November 2006, November 2010, February 2019, January 2020, or December 2021?

[SouthSardiswx]

In terms of specific months though, you'd have December 2017, January 2018, or February 2018 over November 2006, November 2010, February 2019, January 2020, or December 2021?

Oh man Tsnow, that l'd have to do abit of thinking over for longevity or snowfall of said event. l mean for instance February 2019, was great for longevity of cold but disappointing for snowfall.
Snowfall February 2017 takes top spot IMO.

[PortKells]

1. December 2008
2. December 2021
3. December 2016
4. November 2006
5. February 2017
6. February 2019
7. November 2010
8. January 2020
9. February 2018
10. January 2004
11. January 2007
12. February 2011
13. January 2012
14. March 2002
15. January 2005
16. January 2002
17. December 2012
18. December 2013
19. February 2014
20. December 2017
21. December 2007
22. December 2009

November 2010, kind of forgot that one. I was in Scotland in the "winter of the century" over there (it was nothing crazy at all) at that time. I also looked up January 2004, seemed like a kind of half decent one, nothing too crazy. That period between 96 and 2006 was such absolute junk, makes this recent stretch of winters look like gold.

It really would be nice to add some more good events like last year. It really blows my mind how such a good event for this century would've been considered run of the mill 50 years ago.

[Typeing3]

November 2010, kind of forgot that one. I was in Scotland in the "winter of the century" over there (it was nothing crazy at all) at that time. I also looked up January 2004, seemed like a kind of half decent one, nothing too crazy. That period between 96 and 2006 was such absolute junk, makes this recent stretch of winters look like gold.

It really would be nice to add some more good events like last year. It really blows my mind how such a good event for this century would've been considered run of the mill 50 years ago.

That's why January 2004 might be a bit higher on my list than others. It's really nothing special in the historical context (run of the mill midwinter cold snap) but it was actually the last time YVR dropped below -10c in January. Something that used to happen almost every January or multiple times during the month.

[Canada Goose]

the 20th century.

What about January 1969?

https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_d ... 69&Month=1

[Typeing3]

What about January 1969?

https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_d ... 69&Month=1

Oh for sure, that would be there along with a ton of others... I was just agreeing with @Sardis who mentioned December 1971 and 1996.

No winter month in the 21st century comes even close to the top 20-30 in the 20th century. I could potentially see a case for December 2008 to squeeze in but certainly nothing else.

[Glacier]

What about January 1969?

https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_d ... 69&Month=1

And it was even colder at the end of December 1968.

[PortKells]

Oh for sure, that would be there along with a ton of others... I was just agreeing with @Sardis who mentioned December 1971 and 1996.

No winter month in the 21st century comes even close to the top 20-30 in the 20th century. I could potentially see a case for December 2008 to squeeze in but certainly nothing else.

Wow 2008 barely squeezes in. It's so depressing when you put it that way.

[Typeing3]

Data below from is from Agassiz. Monthly average temp and total snowfall in the brackets.

For 20th century, here are the top months (IMO):

1. January 1950 (-9.5c, 57.2cm)
2. January 1916 (-5.9c, 50.8cm)
3. January 1969 (-5.6c, 98.5cm)
4. January 1937 (-4.1c, 61.5cm)
5. January 1913 (-1.8c, 226.2cm)
6. January 1935 (-1.2c, 138.6cm)
7. January 1954 (-2.2c, 93.3cm)
8. January 1907 (-5.1c, 93.9cm)
9. January 1943 (-3.1c, 92.8cm)
10. December 1996 (-0.3c, 106.1cm)
11. February 1936 (-3.3c, 99.4cm)
12. January 1909 (-3.1c, 29.2cm)
13. December 1964 (-1.4c, 79.7cm)
14. January 1911 (-2.3c, 76.2cm)
15. December 1971 (-0.7c, 68.4cm)
16. December 1968 (-0.2c, 55.8cm)
17. January 1979 (-1.9c, 33.4cm)
18. December 1927 (-0.4c, 88.8cm)
19. January 1929 (-1.4c, 16.5cm)
20. January 1930 (-3.6c, 25.4cm)
21. November 1985 (-1.3c, 8.8cm)
22. February 1937 (0.2c, 115.4cm)
23. January 1949 (-1.3c, 10.6cm)
24. January 1971 (0.5c, 69.0cm)
25. February 1916 (2.2c, 73.6cm)