Enough of this cold stuff, we need a break
December went into the weather record books with temperatures a bit below normal and precipitation below normal. The 2.4 degrees below normal was the first time in over a year that temperatures were actually below average.
December also had its share of mild weather, however. The intense cold during the last week of the month tipped the balance to the negative side. Rainfall was just 1.54 inches 鈥� well below the average of 2.91. The intense cold has settled in, and folks are wondering when will we get a break.
As I write this, snow and ice are forecast for Florida and Georgia and more bitter cold air is pouring into Pennsylvania. I did see some milder temperatures in Alaska this week with Anchorage recording a mild 43 degrees and even Fairbanks with temperatures into the 20s.This is a bit of a clue as it suggests that the cold air has all moved southward and it may be awhile before another arctic air mass builds up and moves south.
The current bitterly cold air came down from the Arctic at the end of December and has remained with us. The next couple days should be very cold and then a bit of moderation will begin and the upper level winds will be more westerly than they have been, suggesting more normal temperatures for the remainder of January. The milder air will have some moisture available and we should also see some snow and perhaps a little rain to clean off our cars and roadways.
Average temperatures for January are 39 degrees for the high and 21 for the morning low. We did have a few mornings below zero and today and Saturday should also produce more of the same. What makes it so uncomfortable are the intensity and the duration of the cold, although it has been much worse.
The record low temperature for the area is 22 below zero set on Jan.19, 1994. In the mountains, Chalk Hill registered 27 below and nearby Elliotsville has seen 34 below.
The coldest Pennsylvania temperature was -42 at Smethport in McKean County.
On Jan. 19, 1994, the temperature in Uniontown only rose to 3 degrees below zero.
Our coldest month was January 1977 with an average temperature of 11.4 degrees. Average January temperature is 30.
The longest period with temperatures zero or lower was 52 hours from 6 a.m. Jan. 18, 1994, until 10 a.m. Jan. 20, 1994.
The longest period with temperatures 32 degrees or lower lasted 33 days from Dec. 26, 1976, through Jan. 18, 1977.
The longest period with a minimum temperature of zero or lower was 7 consecutive days from Feb. 8-14 with the lowest reading of 20 below zero.
The coldest year on record in this area was 1976. With a annual average temperature of 48.
One last statistic, the world蘑菇视频 coldest temperature of 129 degrees below zero was set on July 21 1983, at Vostok, Antarctica. Just recently on July 13, 2013, a satellite temperature of 135.3 degrees below zero may challenge the old record.
Interesting!