WHEN: December 2010
WHERE: North America, Europe
Source: www.weather.com
What do I love?...EXTREME WEATHER!!Been cold lately? If you live in the eastern half of the country (or northern Europe), the answer is a teeth-chattering 'yes'. The past two weeks have been filled with extreme cold and many records have been set for the intensity and length of the cold.
Not even Florida has been safe from this intense early December blitz. Ft. Lauderdale broke a 169 year-old record low of 39° on December 8 and most of Florida has seen lows drop in to the 20's at least once this month. The wind chill dropped to 25° in Miami last week. While cold like that is not unheard of in Florida, it is more likely in late January, not early December, and does not push as far south. In Great Britain, at least 30" of snow fell over parts Scotland and shut down many major airports across Europe.
Source: www.weather.com
Snow-laden pine trees along a highway in Newcastle, England on November 29
From Denmark to the Dakotas, we can all blame the cold on the Greenland Block, which has been set up over Greenland for the past two weeks. A ridge of stationary high pressure, the Greenland Block is a large mass of air which forces cold Arctic air south on both its sides for a prolonged period of time. While the block is in place, the jet stream is unable to move east and so cold air is channeled southward, unabated, until the block moves or dissipates. The block this month is especially stubborn and has not yet fully released its hold.
The Greenland Block
Departure from average highs for December 3-9
The block has also sent early-winter (late-fall really) snowfall as far south as the Carolinas on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. In Charleston, we had several mornings last week with wind chills in the teens and twenties and this week seems to be looking like more of the same. Last Wednesday (Dec. 8) in Charleston, a 76-year record low high temperature was broken for the day (43°). We "warmed up" to the 50's this weekend but have failed to see an above-average temperature yet this month (and may not in December). In fact, there have only been two days this month with a high above January's average high, and no warmer days than that in the 10-day forecast. Wind chills dropping in to the single digits are possible tomorrow morning in Charleston. I think I'm staying home from work!
Snow plunged south into parts of the Carolinas on December 4-5
Of course the most recent story to develop from this cold December was the snow storm over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes this weekend. Over 20" of snow fell yesterday in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan, while 50-60mph winds in these and surrounding states created white-out conditions. Even for these northern states, this was one of the snowiest storms in recorded history. It was the fifth snowiest storm in the Twin Cities' recorded history (1891-2010), with 17.1" falling at the MSP airport. Saturday was also the snowiest December day in the Twin Cities and the snowiest start to the season since 1991. This weekend's storm forced a 150-mile stretch of Interstate 90 to be shut down. In Chicago, almost 1,400 flights were canceled out of O'Hare International on Saturday. In Minneapolis, the roof of the Vikings football stadium collapsed and snow plows were called off the roads Saturday.
Snow cover across the Upper Midwest as of 6pm December 12
Snow cover over southeastern Minnesota as of 6pm December 12
Winona, MN, where 26" of snow fell during this weekend's storm.
Debby, been treating any students for illnesses related to this adolescent nonsense? :)
An impressive start for the 2010-2011 winter season. For a guy who lives for extreme weather - hot or cold, wet or dry, local or international - I may have a lot to look forward to this season. Now, if I could just get it to snow (and stay) before and during our trip to Iowa, I'll be set. I'm ready to shovel, ready to throw water into the air and watch it fall as ice, ready to fly in to Minneapolis at midnight and see the lighted 'villages' below, ready to take my nephwew, Riley (a Golden Retriever), out for our second annual Christmas Eve night romp through the nieghborhood...I'm in the winter mood!
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