Winter in White Clay Watershed

© Iris Bellafiore

It's another snowy day in the White Clay Creek watershed. Spring is (hopefully) just around the corner, but here are some fun facts about snow to hold you over until the weather warms up.

  • An average snowflake is made up of more than 180 billion water molecules.
  • Did you know there's a snow phobia? It's called chiophobia, and it's the intense fear of snow.
  • There's a connection between snow and snacks! People tend to buy more cakes, cookies, and candies than any other food when a blizzard is on the forecast.
  • The highest snowfall ever recorded in the U.S. in one year was 31.3 meters (102 feet) in Mount Rainier, Washington between February 1971 and February 1972.
  • The most snow in one day in the U.S. was 76 inches in Silver Lake, Colorado in 1921. That's more than 6 feet falling from the sky in a single day!

Want to know how this winter stacks up to other winters throughout history? Thus far, this winter is in the top 5 snowiest winters in the White Clay Creek (the winter of 2010 is #1). As of February 17th, total snowfall at the New Castle County Airport was 49.4 inches. That's a lot of snow! So until spring returns, get out and enjoy a snowy White Clay winter day!

Hiking in the Preserve.