The coldest and mildest winters since 1895 in Coeur d'Alene

Last week in 'Gems,' we featured the all-time Coeur d'Alene monthly snowfall records for the past 117 years dating back to 1895. Each season ends officially on June 30.

This time around, we're updating the coldest and warmest winter seasons on record, plus the most frigid winter days since 1895.

COEUR d'ALENE'S 'TOP TEN' COLDEST WINTERS (NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH):

1. 1948-49 - 6.4 degrees below normal.

2. 1978-79 - 6.1 degrees below normal.

3. 1949-50 - 5.9 degrees below normal.

4. 1936-37 - 5.7 degrees below normal.

5. 1956-57 - 5.3 degrees below normal.

6. 1968-69 - 5.1 degrees below normal.

7. 1929-30 - 4.8 degrees below normal.

8. 1959-60 - 4.7 degrees below normal.

9. 1962-63 - 4.5 degrees below normal.

10. 1915-16 - 4.3 degrees below normal.

THE 'TOP TEN' COLDEST MORNINGS IN COEUR d'ALENE (NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH):

1. -30 degrees on 1/30/1950 (-37 degrees at Hayden Lake).

2. -29 degrees on 2/9/1933 (-35 degrees at Sandpoint.)

TIE -29 degrees on 1/29/1950.

4. -27 degrees on 1/20/1935.

TIE -27 degrees on 2/1/1950 (-30 degrees at Sandpoint).

6. -26 degrees on 1/31/1950

TIE -26 degrees on 12/30/1968 (-35 degrees at Hayden Lake).

8. -24 degrees on 2/10/1953.

9. -23 degrees on 2/2/1950.

10. -22 degrees on 1/24/1949.

THE 'TOP TEN' MILDEST WINTERS IN COEUR d'ALENE (NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH):

1. 1952-53 - 6.6 degrees above normal.

2. 1982-83 - 6.4 degrees above normal.

3. 2002-03 - 5.8 degrees above normal.

4. 1980-81 - 5.5 degrees above normal.

5. 1933-34 - 5.3 degrees above normal.

6. 2009-10 - 5.2 degrees above normal

7. 1966-67 - 5.1 degrees above normal.

8. 1913-14 - 5.0 degrees above normal.

9. 1938-39 - 4.8 degrees above normal.

10. 1998-99 - 4.8 degrees above normal.

Last winter, during a chilly and snowy 'La Nina' sea-surface temperature event, we were 2.7 degrees below normal temperaturewise in Coeur d'Alene. The winter of 2010-11 was the 37th coldest on record in town since 1895. The spring of 2011 was the third coldest ever observed, and the third wettest such period on record. The summer of 2011 was very warm and dry after a late start. Our fall thus far has been great, and very colorful. But, Old Man Winter is "waiting in the wings."

Next week in 'Gems,' our prolonged cycle of Wide Weather 'Extremes' hasn't peaked yet.

NORTH IDAHO WEATHER REVIEW AND LONG-RANGE OUTLOOKS

As of Thursday morning, Nov. 3, we were still awaiting our first measurable snowfall of the expected La Nina-dominated winter of 2011-12 in the lowlands below 2,500 feet in North Idaho.

The higher elevation ski resorts received their first snows of the season in late October. It won't be long before the Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area will be open for skiing and snowboarding.

Schweitzer Mountain and Silver Mountain are both hoping to open by Thanksgiving. Silver Mountain will have its annual 'Pray for Snow Party' on Nov. 18. We see heavier snowfalls arriving in our part of the country during the 'full moon' cycle of Nov. 11-18, right after Veterans Day.

I'm 'playing it safe' this year. I put my studded snow tires on our Toyota earlier in the week. We're covering our mums every night. They are still in full bloom.

Looking farther down the meteorological roadway, Randy and I still predict that least Lookout Pass will be open for skiing by the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The other ski resorts may not have enough snow to open until early December, But, as usual, only time will tell.

Remember, last November was the snowiest on record since at least 1895 in Coeur d'Alene. We measured a whopping 38.3 inches of rather wet snow on Player Drive compared to the November average snowfall of just 8.7 inches in town. This November should bring us around a 'foot' of snow in Coeur d'Alene with upwards of 20 inches expected in the snowier Twin Lake area and points north.

Cliff Harris is a climatologist who writes a weekly column for The Press. His opinions are his own. Email sfharris@roadrunner.com