Why That Early December Snow Felt Bigger Than It Was

• Asia Tabb
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  Asia Tabb is the Host and Producer for WITF’s The Spark.
  
  She began her start in radio when she joined legendary radio/ host producer, Doc Christian. She worked closely with Doc for her role on “The Gospel Express, on WHOV 88.1 FM and was a host for “Unrestricted Praise” at Praise FM.
  
  Previously she was an anchor in Shreveport, Louisiana at KTAL/KMSS. Asia also worked as a Multi-Media Journalist at WHP-TV here in Harrisburg, PA.
  
  Asia got her break into news at KTVO in Ottumwa, Ia. While the 2020 caucuses were gearing up. Asia followed many candidates through their campaign trail from Senator Cory Booker, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and 46th President of the United States Joe Biden.
  
  Asia was born and raised in Norfolk, Va. She graduated from Old Dominion University in 2018 with a major in Communications.
  
  Asia is extremely friendly so don’t be afraid to say hi if you see her out and about.

 Chris Knight / LNP | LancasterOnline

Snow piles up on a lamp post along Sunnyside Road in Mt. Joy Twp. Tuesday Jan. 16, 2024.

AIRED; December 9, 2025

Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation. 

Central Pennsylvania’s early December snowfall may have looked and felt significant, but ABC 27 meteorologist Dan Tomaso says it was a classic example of how timing can matter more than total snowfall. During a recent conversation on The Spark, host Asia Tabb noted that the six hours of steady snow last week “looks pretty thick,” especially for a month when many people expect milder conditions. Tomaso explained that December is often a tricky month for snow, requiring both sustained cold and the right storm track — something that doesn’t always line up. Last Tuesday, it did. “We actually had both aligned for a change,” Tomaso said, describing the storm as a “typical Central Pennsylvania special” that delivered about two to three inches of accumulation, enough to disrupt the morning commute.

Tomaso emphasized that while the snowfall caused accidents and school closures, it didn’t meet the meteorological benchmark of a major snowstorm. “It’s usually about the timing, not about the amounts,” he said, noting that even one or two inches can create major problems if it falls quickly during peak travel hours. He added that storms coming up from the south, like last week’s, tend to produce more snow in the region, while systems arriving from the north are often colder but much drier. That dry air, he explained, can actually make snow harder to produce, even when temperatures stay well below average.

Despite the abrupt shift to colder conditions — the region is now more than seven degrees colder than average for the month — Tomaso urged listeners not to assume a snowy winter is guaranteed. “Before everyone panics that this is going to be some major snow… I wouldn’t panic to that level yet,” he said. Truly impactful storms, defined as three to six inches or more, are relatively rare in central Pennsylvania, and the area hasn’t seen an above-average winter snowfall since 2016. While flurries and snow showers may continue, Tomaso noted that reaching typical seasonal totals of around 28 to 36 inches has become increasingly difficult in recent years.