2007–08 North American winter
| 2007–08 North American winter | |
|---|---|
A winter storm impacting the western United States on December 1, 2007 | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| Meteorological winter | December 1 – February 28 |
| Astronomical winter | December 22 – March 20 |
| First event started | November 29, 2007 |
| Last event concluded | April 13, 2008 |
| Most notable event | |
| Name | February 2008 North American winter storm |
| • Duration | February 5–8, 2008 |
| • Lowest pressure | 991 mb (29.26 inHg) |
| • Fatalities | 4 fatalities |
| • Damage | Unknown (2008 USD) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total WPC-issued storms | 18 total |
| Rated storms (RSI) (Cat. 1+) | 6 total |
| Major storms (RSI) (Cat. 3+) | 0 total |
| Total fatalities | 135 total |
| Total damage | $2.08 billion (2008 USD) |
| Related articles | |
The 2007–08 North American winter was near-average in terms of winter weather, influenced by an ongoing La Niña event. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) tracked a total of 18 significant winter weather events during the season. A large portion of the northern half of the United States saw large amounts of snowfall, a theme that would be repeated somewhat the following winter. 6 events were rated on the Regional Snowfall Index (RSI), though none managed to be rated above a Category 3 "Major" ranking.
While there is no well-agreed-upon date used to indicate the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, there are two definitions of winter which may be used. Based on the astronomical definition, winter begins at the winter solstice, which in 2007 occurred on December 22, and ends at the March equinox, which in 2008 occurred on March 20. Based on the meteorological definition, the first day of winter is December 1 and the last day February 28. Both definitions involve a period of approximately three months, with some variability.