I hope no one minds that I've resurrected a post from Sept 25, but a coworker was looking at this snowfall data and suggested that we check to see if any of these years had a warm Christmas Day. Well, I got to looking at the data, and found some of it interesting, and dare I say, encouraging.
For those old enough to remember the first Washington's Birthday storm in Feb 1979, look at the similarities. (Listed as Dec 1978 )
Even the coolest 12/25 in 1884 fired off a high of 66 on 12/31.
(I looked at the late Dec period in general, not just 12/25.)
I didn't expect the see anything in this, but now I think it's worthy of posting. Thanks for your indulgence.
---------- Original Posted Data; Updated-------------
Dry Sept -vs- snowfall amount:
I investigated the 8 years mentioned by LWX in the AFD today regarding driest Septembers. (5 Driest Septembers BWI, DCA, IAD)
Using BWI annual snowfall records, (normal 20.1 inches), I checked the following winters of each year for either normal, or above normal; rounding to the nearest inch. So basically, if a winter was 20" or higher it makes the winner's circle. (2005 wouldn't have made it without the rounding to 20, but eh, close enough)
So, I was a bit surprised that only 2007, at 9" was below normal. Here's the years and following winter snowfall (Balto snow data):
Update 1/2/20: Added the Max Temp on Christmas Day, Dec Max T, Dec Snowfall, and monthly temp departure.
12/25 Max Dec Max (day) Other notable Dec Snow (3.0 avg) Dep
1884 - 31" 32f 66f, 12/31 63f on 12/7 3.8” +1.4
1906 - 31" 32 68, 12/6 66 on 12/15 0.2 -0.4
1967 - 23" 40 62, 12/22 61 on 12/19 4.6 +0.6
1977 - 34" 52 59, 12/14 26/13 on 12/28 0.5 -1.1
1978 - 43" 48 72, 12/8 71 on 12/4 0 +3.4
2005 - 20" 42 58, 12/24 6.0 -2.7
2007 - 9" 50 63, 12/23 nothing else over 59 4.8 +1.1
2014 - 29" 61 69, 12/1 61 on 12/24, 60, 12/28 0.2 +3.2
2019 - ?? 49 65, 12/28 0.3 +3.2
avg = 27.5”
The 1977 was only at DCA; 1978 and 2014 only at IAD. Otherwise pretty good mix.
Hope we don't see another 2007/8 winter; or worse.