The ozone stuff might have something to do with it, but it seems far-fetched that the strength of the sun itself has changed that much over the course of (half?) a human lifetime.
EC gives us yet another possible solution for Christmas: a west-to-east low moving across the Mid-Atlantic. Too warm for snow, but closer to the solution we want?
Would think today’s record high of 64 is in play if we get some sun. Last year, PIT set a record snowfall of 9.3” on today’s date. What a difference a year makes.
Edit: looks like 64 was reached just after noon.
The only thing I’ll add about “normals” is this, and I think I’ve said this before: seasonable temperatures are just fine if you don’t simply oscillate between normal and well above normal like what seems to happen a lot. The last time MDT recorded a negative double digit temp departure for a day was way back on 6/23. How many double digit positive departures have occurred between then and now? 22.
As @MAG5035and @Blizzard of 93alluded to, highs in the 40s are considered normal for parts of winter, but here’s the top 10:
Note that 8 of these have occurred in the past 30 years.
I always enjoy these posts. The Zapata, TX reference reminds me of a PM I once got from someone inquiring about the September record high for the state of Texas because it was 107 in Zapata that day.
Was looking for addresses for Christmas cards that I had screenshot in my phone last year and came across a photo I took of the snow on 12/17/20, and got mildly depressed.