Unfinished month threatens to beat second-snowiest November

By David Skolnick

This is already the third-snowiest November on record for the area.

YOUNGSTOWN — Those going out of town today, traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the year, will wake up to snow on the ground and more falling during the day.

The Mahoning Valley could have up to 6 inches of snow on the ground by early today with an additional inch or two expected to fall throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow is not in the forecast for Thanksgiving, said Martin Thompson with the weather service in Cleveland.

There is a chance of snow Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but little if any accumulation is expected, he said.

Also, temperatures will be lower than normal this week and next, Thompson said.

The 14 inches of snow in the Valley as of early Tuesday is already good enough to be the third-snowiest November on record in the area.

It’s possible the area could surpass 1971 as the second-snowiest November; 20.1 inches of snow fell that month.

But No. 1 is unlikely.

In November 1950, 30.6 inches of snow fell.

The area also had its fourth-snowiest October on record last month when 2.6 inches fell.

The National Weather Service measures snowfall for the Valley at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna. The Valley’s recorded weather history dates to 1943.

The area has broken the snowfall records the past two winter seasons.

The 2007-08 winter season’s 102.8 inches makes it the snowiest on record.

In second place is 2006-07 when 90.2 inches of snow fell.

Though gas is at a three-year low, AAA is predicting overall travel nationwide for the Thanksgiving holiday to be 1.2 percent less than the same time last year.

Nationally, about 33 million people will drive at least 50 miles for the holiday between today and Sunday, according to AAA.