Enough already.

Winter has buried the Vineyard and the rest of New England in one snowfall after another, and there is little argument among Islanders that spring can't come soon enough.

Photo

The temperature outside yesterday at noon was in the twenties, with close to six inches of snow on the ground, left over from a March 1 storm that brought the month roaring in - like the old saying.

And just how much snow has there been?

As of today, the Vineyard has received 54 inches of the white stuff since the year began. The total amount may seem significant, but it is unclear whether any records have been broken aside from the blizzard that hit on Jan. 22 and 23. In that snowstorm alone the Vineyard received 23 inches of snow.

Total snowfall for January was 37 inches. In February the Island received another 11.5 inches, most of it in small amounts. In fact, according to the National Weather Service cooperative station in Edgartown, February was a relatively dry month with 2.46 inches in melted precipitation, close to half of the average.

But February temperatures were cold, with the monthly average below freezing at 30 degrees. And records show there was snow on the ground nearly every day of the month. Weather station records report snowfall on the ground 22 of the 28 days in February.

In 1996 the Vineyard received a total of 40 inches of snow in January and February.

Photo

In February of 2003 the Vineyard received a total of 27 inches of snow, which fell over the course of three separate storms. The biggest one dumped 11.5 inches.

The biggest single recorded snowstorm in a 24-hour period in the last 50 years was recorded in 1960; the total was 15 inches.

Island schoolchildren have been on the receiving end of this winter wonderland. To date Vineyard public schools have logged six snow days. The school calendar includes five snow days, so children can now expect to attend school for one more day, through Wednesday, June 29.

The forecast for next week? More snow.