GREENSBORO, N.C. — The full moon strikes again! February's full moon is known as the Full Blue Snow Moon. It will technically reach 100% illumination or peak around lunchtime Wednesday at 11:56 am, but midday makes it tough to spot something white in the sky, especially with a forecast calling for clouds to roll in. Tonight's skies with few clouds should allow for you to spot it.
The full Blue Snow Moon is named for the heavy snows that generally fall, during this season. According to the National Weather Service, February is generally the snowiest month in the United States. In Greensboro, January tends to be when our snow meter rises. In fact, this past January, there was 8.2" of snow reported at PTI. Although we may see snow in February at times, it comes in second following January and just barely ahead of December.
The blue in the name is used to reference the full moons that occur every two or three years-- they are the extra full moons during a season. Each astronomical season should have three full moons, so in this case between the winter solstice (December 21) and spring equinox (March 20). However, this season we get a bonus!
The next full moon will be on March 18 and is known as the Worm Moon. Although this moon is in March, it arrives just ahead of the equinox keeping this moon still within the winter season. Best place to see this moon is to look east, after 6 pm!
