Is it winter or not? Depends on who you ask

Ask any meteorologist and they will tell you winter has begun. That's because meteorological winter starts on December 1 and runs through the end of February. Meteorological seasons are based on the calendar months, making it easier for statistic keeping.

When it comes to the winter months in the Ozarks, January is statistically the coldest, with a mean average temperature of 34.3°. December's mean average temperature is 37.4°, and February is 38.7°.

According to WeatherSpark.com, the coldest day of the year statistically is January 6. The snowiest day of the year comes almost a month later on February 1. The clearest day of the winter is behind us, on December 1 and the cloudiest day of winter is statistically February 12.

The meteorological start of a season is based on the 12-month calendar and the annual temperature cycle. Each season begins on the first of a particular month and lasts for three months. Spring begins on March 1, summer on June 1, autumn on September 1 and winter on December 1. This way of record keeping was created by climate scientists and meteorologists, making it easier since the season doesn’t change from year to year.

The astronomical start of a season is based on the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun. The start of each season is marked by a solstice (for winter and summer) or an equinox (for spring and autumn). A solstice occurs when the Sun reaches the most southerly (winter) or northerly(summer) point in the sky.

During an equinox, the sun passes over Earth’s equator. The dates of the equinoxes and solstices can shift by a day or two over time thanks to leap years, causing the start dates of the seasons to shift.

Meteorological seasons:

Spring – March, April, May
Summer – June, July, August
Fall – September, October, November
Winter – December, January, February