Meager long rains

Snowfall at the summit during the "long rains" season was unusually meager this year. For March through May, net accumulation amounted to only 20 cm, or less than 1/3 of that last year. The most prolonged period of accumulation occurred between mid-March and mid-April (~23 cm), some of which settled and ablated rather quickly afterward. The first half of May brought ~13 cm of additional snow, a period during which there were "crazy, torrential rains" in Moshi. Little additional accumulation has been recorded at the summit since mid-May.

So, based on preliminary data, snowfall during the month of December was roughly of the same magnitude as that for the entire "long rains" period March/April/May 2013.  The stage could be set for considerable ablation during the forthcoming, extended dry season...