Increases in snow season length due to earlier first snow and later last snow dates over north central and northwest Asia during 1937–94

Trends of the first and last snow date and the length of snow season, defined by the time period between first and last snow date, during 1937–94 over northern Asia are examined. The length of snow season over North Central and Northwest Asia has increased by about 4 days per decade during the study period. The increased length of the snow season is due to earlier snowfalls at the beginning of the season and to a lesser extent to later last snowfalls at the end of the season.