December was warm, not wet enough
For 'brrrrr' weather, you need to look back at 1989
By GORDON D. FIEDLER JR.
Salina Journal
Salina area snow lovers embraced a rare white Christmas made even rarer by December's relative warmth and lack of moisture.
The average high temperature was almost 44 degrees, helped aloft by a 62-degree reading Dec. 31, a single degree shy of the 63-degree record for that day set in 1954.
The average low for the month was nearly 25 degrees.
The month started with seasonable highs, between 35 and 45 degrees, then sunk to 25 on Dec. 5 and warming slightly to 27 the next day, hinting at another frigid end to the year.
But the high bounced to 44 on Dec. 7, and the high never dipped below freezing the rest of the month.
A 10-degree reading Dec. 23 was the lowest temperature recorded for the month.
Those who cursed the cold should be happy 2011 was not a repeat of 1989, when temperatures reached record-setting lows five days in December.
Records started falling Dec. 15 when the low reached minus 15. The next day, it dropped a degree to minus 16.
On Dec. 21, another record fell with a minus 11-degree reading, but the nadir struck Dec. 22, when Salinans awoke to a minus 24 morning. There was only cold comfort the next day when a "warming trend" brought the low temperature to minus 20.
A 1939 'heat wave'
These readings stand in stark contrast to those recorded in 1939. Nine of December's record highs were set that year, including an 81-degree reading Dec. 6.
That temperature was bookended by a 72-degree record Dec. 5 and 67 on Dec. 7.
Another trio of record-setters started Dec. 9 with a 73-degree reading followed by 72 and 75.
A final three-act record-breaker began Dec. 15, with readings of 69, 66 and 78 degrees through Dec. 17.
Still dry, despite rains
The bulk of December's moisture -- double its average amount -- fell in midmonth. But despite the 2-inch "soaking," it couldn't close the 2011 deficit, finishing at 20.16 inches -- more than 10 inches behind the annual average of 30.43 inches.
The warmth of December isn't a mystery, according to the National Weather Service forecasters in Hastings, Neb.
Southern Nebraska and northern Kansas suffered -- or were blessed, depending on one's climate perspective -- on a paucity of snow. Ground blanketed by snow reflects solar energy. Bare ground soaks it up. Also, winter winds blowing across snow chill the air. So, no snow means warmer ground and relatively warmer winds.
Warmer than normal
Also in play this year, according to the weather service, is the North Atlantic Oscillation, a phenomenon involving sea level air pressure. A strong NAO can block Arctic air flow into the eastern United States. A weak NAO allows Arctic cold fronts to bully themselves into areas east of the Rocky Mountains. A strong NAO is forecast to continue though early January, according to the weather service.
Weather watchers who place faith in the forecasters of the Old Farmers Almanac will notice it predicts January to finish its 31-day performance four degrees above normal.
--Gordon D. Fiedler Jr. can be reached at 822-1407 or by email at gfiedler@salina.com.
