Happy New Year!

Hello and like the title says, Happy New Year! The New Year's Eve was foggy and about average for temps across our region. I hope you all had a great time.

Another month is in the books and December went down as rather chilly and bone dry for December. A lack of precipitation has been the theme in calender year 2013. Just 31 inches of rain fell from January 1, 2013 till New Years Eve. We were well below average on both daily highs and overnight lows. I had one morning with a low just 1/2 degree shy of my all time (12 years) low.

Let's take a look at the month by the numbers. The average observed low was 30.14 degrees which is nearly 3 cooler than my 12 year average for December. Also roughly 3 under was the average highs at 39.20 degrees. The coldest morning was a 9.1 on the 8th and the coldest afternoon high was on that same day with a reading of 26.9. The warmest temp was on the 1st of the month with a balmy 53.7 degrees and the warmest overnight low came on that same day as well with 46.2. The wettest day was the warmest day bringing 1.8 inches of rain on the first of the month. That was more than half the monthly total which amounted to a desert-like 3.2 inches. I typically have about 8 in the bucket in December. We had some light snowfall totaling just 1.75 inches, most of which fell on the 6th.

Precipitation Rain and Snow

This month had the longest stretch of continuously sub-freezing temps since I began keeping records here in 2002. I have had several three day stretches under the freezing mark but this one went a full five. It is not rare for the daytime highs to be stuck under 32 but it is unusual. Stringing a whole work-week of sub freezing days is legitimately rare.

The initial look for the first half of January is pretty standard fare for winter with average temps and typical precipitation. The whit fluffy variety appears to be staying up above 1000 feet for the next several days. But as usual, you never know.

Get out and enjoy the weather. Soak it up my friends, Soak it up.