2011–12 North American winter
The 2011–12 North American winter by and large saw above normal average temperatures across North America, with the Contiguous United States encountering its fourth-warmest winter on record, along with an unusually low number of significant winter precipitation events. The primary outlier was Alaska, parts of which experienced their coldest January on record.
| 2011–12 North American winter | |
|---|---|
Temperature map of the United States on an unusually warm winter day, January 31, 2012 | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| Meteorological winter | December 1 – February 29 |
| Astronomical winter | December 21 – March 20 |
| First event started | October 27, 2011 |
| Last event concluded | January 21, 2012 |
| Most notable event | |
| Name | 2011 Halloween nor'easter |
| • Duration | October 28–November 1, 2011 |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Maximum snowfall accumulation | 32 in (81 cm) (Peru, Massachusetts) |
| Total fatalities | 43-49 total |
| Total damage | Unknown |
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 2011 occurred late on December 21 (early on December 22 in EST), and ends at the March equinox, which in 2012 occurred on March 20 (March 19 in CDT and EDT). Based on the meteorological definition, the first day of winter is December 1 and the last day February 29. Both definitions involve a period of approximately three months, with some variability.