SACRUS

Records:

Highs:

EWR: 60 (1931)
NYC: 58 (1931)
LGA: 57 (1957)
JFK: 56 (1957)


Lows:

EWR: 9 (1942)
NYC: -1 (1884)
LGA: 14 (1980)
JFK: 15 (1991)


Historical:

1777 - The Continental Army moved into encampment at Valley Forge amidst stormy winds and piercing cold. A relatively moderate winter followed. (David Ludlum)

1777: George Washington led his hungry and weary from long marches men to Valley Forge on this day. The winds greeted the 12,000 Continentals as they prepared for the winter. 

1911: The 24 hour snowfall record was broke in Oklahoma with 22 inches falling at Beaver. (Ref. AccWeather Weather History)
 

1924 - The Riverside Ranger Station in Yellowstone Park, WY, reported a low of 59 degrees below zero, a December record for the U.S. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1924: record highs for the date included: Roanoke, VA: 78 °F, Lynchburg, VA: 77 °F, Richmond, VA: 76 °F, Norfolk, VA: 75 °F, and Baltimore, MD: 66 °F. Maximum temperature of 74 degrees F on 19th in Washington, DC the temperature fell to 19 degrees F on the 20th.(Ref. Washington Weather Records KDCA) (Ref. Wilson - Additional Temperatures Listed On This Link)

1957 - A tornado, 200 yards in width, killed two persons along its 15-mile path from near Waldo to near Bueana Vista in southwestern Arkansas. People from one house were carried 250 yards, and cars were said to have been carried 600 yards. (The Weather Channel)

1967 - A record 83 inches of snow covered the ground at Flagstaff, AZ. The heavy snows inflicted great hardships on reservations. (David Ludlum)

1973: Indiana is bombarded by a big pre-Christmas snowstorm. 18 inches of snow fell at Covington, IN. (Ref. AccWeather Weather History)

1983: A massive area of arctic high pressure dominates the weather across much of North America during an historic cold wave. Jump River, WI plunged to -47 °F, not only setting a record low for December but also tied for their all-time record low (1/2/1979). Hatfield, WI fell to -39 °F, setting their all-time record low. Across the border, Coronation, Alberta Canada recorded their coldest day in 99 years as the thermometer fell to -42 °F. The following locations set their all-time record low for December: St. Cloud, MN: -41 °F, Blair, WI: -39 °F, Theilman, MN: -38 °F, Dodge, WI: -38 °F, Mondovi, WI: -38 °F, Viroqua, WI: -36 °F, Preston, MN: -35 °F, Rochester, MN: -33 °F, Owen, WI: -33 °F, Cresco, IA: -30 °F, La Crosse, WI: -30 °F, (Ref. Wilson - Additional Temperatures Listed On This Link)

1984: A ridge of high pressure extending from the Gulf of Mexico to Florida brought record high temperatures ahead of cold front across parts of the south including: Athens, GA: 78 °F, Savannah, GA: 78 °F-Tied, Norfolk, VA: 77 °F, Charlotte, NC: 76 °F, Raleigh, NC: 76 °F-Tied, Columbus, GA: 76 °F-Tied, Atlanta, GA: 74 °F, Chattanooga, TN: 71 °F, Wallops Island, VA: 70 °F and Asheville, NC: 70 °F-Tied. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987 - Thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds in eastern Texas and the Lower Mississippi Valley. Thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 90 mph at Venus TX and Providence LA. Rain prevailed from the Southern Plains to the Middle Mississippi Valley. Small stream flooding was reported around Columbia MO. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988 - Low pressure and a trailing cold front in the central U.S. brought snow and high winds to parts of the Rocky Mountain Region. Winds in Colorado gusted to 67 mph at La Junta. Thunderstorms along the same cold front produced wind gusts to 65 mph at Kansas City MO. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989 - High winds and heavy snow plagued the northern and central Rockies. Snowfall totals in Montana ranged up to 12 inches at Lincoln, and wind gusts in Colorado reached 97 mph at Squaw Mountain. Twelve cities in the north central U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date, including Dickinson ND with a reading of 26 degrees below zero. Bismarck ND was the cold spot in the nation with a morning low of 35 degrees below zero. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1995: Another major snowstorm occurred in the northeast from the lower Great Lakes to New England. New York City picked up 7 to 12 inches of snow.(Ref. AccWeather Weather History)
A tornado only 50-yd wide, 3 mi long track; yet deadly. An F2 tornado destroyed a mobile home in Mt. Pleasant, FL. The 2 occupants (brothers) were thrown 125+ yards. The men were found 4 hours later; 1 was dead, the other hurt badly. Objects from the home were found 3 miles away.(Ref. Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2011 Accord Pub. 2010, USA)

2008 - A snow and ice storm on December 19 affected parts of the U.S. Midwest. Over 220,000 homes and businesses across Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio were left without electric services. No fatalities were reported (Reuters).

2009: Snowfall totals from 1 to 2 feet were commonplace in what will go down as one of the biggest snowstorms in history on the East Coast and the first of four snowstorms for the Mid-Atlantic during the winter of 2009-10. The 15 inches of snow measured at Reagan International Airport on Dec. 19th was the third-highest daily snowfall on any calendar day at Washington, DC, since snowfall records began in 1884. The total storm snowfall of 16.4 inches on Dec 18-19 2009 marks the 6th highest two-day snowfall record for Washington, DC putting it just below the second President's Day storm in 2003 and ahead of the Jan 1996 storm. Baltimore Washington Airport saw 20.5 inches of snow and went down as the fifth-highest daily snowfall on any calendar day in Baltimore since snowfall records began in 1893. The total storm snowfall of 21.0 inches on Dec 18-19 2009 marks the 6th highest two-day snowfall record for Baltimore. The daily snowfall records for Dec 19 were smashed for the most snowfall for any calendar day during December at the following stations. Reagan National Airport's new record was 15.0 inches, old record 11.5 in 1932. Baltimore Washington Airport's new record was 20.5 inches, old record 11.5 in 1932. This was the biggest December snowstorm on record and setting a record for the snowiest December for Baltimore, MD. Dulles Airport's new record was 16.0 inches, old record 10.6 in 1982. Richmond International Airport had a total of 6.4 inches. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reported its second greatest daily snowfall total on record with 22.9 inches. It also was the single most significant December snowfall for the city of Philadelphia, PA. Roanoke, Virginia, recorded 17.8 inches setting a record for the greatest 24-hour snowfall in December. Washington, DC, reported 16.4 inches of snowmaking 2009 the snowiest December on record, all in one storm. In New York, Upton on Long Island recorded 26.3 inches, the biggest snowstorm on record.

58 / 58 gusty SE winds to 30 MPH and moderate rain.  Mid 50s to near or 60 today which could match records highs in areas.  0.75 - 1.50 of rain.   Colder Saturday - warmer Sunday - colder Mon/Tue with some snow/mix light on Tue before warming up Christmas eve through the 29th - much above normal.  30/31 next storm threat as cold backs down into the northeast.  Beyond there, a bit of back and forth near normal.

HIghs:  Max for the month (so far)

TEB: 54
New Brnswck: 53
EWR: 51
LGA: 51
TTN: 51
JFK: 50
ISP: 50
NYC: 49

Rain to PA

51 / 36 here.

Oddly with enough warmth tomorrow - we could see or approach record highs (EWR-60 / NYC - 58)

Looks like NYC was at 0 departure on Wed and the below streak stopped at 20,  EWR and other sites were still below yesterday.  Today that will bring the below daily departure streak to an end at 20-21 days.  

GFS is further expansive east with the ridge and the Euro had a cutoff building NE to SW in the Dec 30 period.

Records:

Highs:

EWR: 64 (2023)
NYC: 63 (1984)
LGA: 63 (2023)
JFK: 64 (1984)

Lows:

EWR: 13 (1953)
NYC: -1 (1919)
LGA: 16 (1953)
JFK: 16 (1973)

Historical:

1620: The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, MA in a severe windstorm. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1779: The first big snowstorm of the "hard winter" dumped 17 inches on New Haven, CT. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1919: New York, New York: The Central Park temperature drops to one degree below zero F, the earliest sub-zero temperature in the city on record. A cold air mass brought record cold along the east coast.
Other daily record lows for the date included: Burlington, VT: -13 °F, Syracuse, NY: -13 °F, Worcester, MA: -11 °F, Portland, ME: -10 °F, Rochester, NY: -7 °F, Boston, MA: -6 °F, Hartford, CT: -6 °F, Elkins, WV: -5 °F, New York (Central Park), NY: -1 °F, Philadelphia, PA: 4 °F, Baltimore, MD: 7 °F and Washington, DC: 10 °F. (Ref. Wilson - Additional Temperatures Listed On This Link)

1944: The powerful U.S. Third Fleet was still in the grips of powerful Typhoon Cobra December 17th and 18th. The encounter with the typhoon was more damaging to the Fleet than many battles with the Japanese.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)
 

1957 - A tornado swept across Jackson County, Williamson County and Franklin County in southern Illinois killing eleven persons. (David Ludlum)

1981 - A heavy lake-effect snow blanketed the southern and southeast shores of Lake Michigan leaving up to 22 inches of snow at Valparaiso IND. (David Ludlum)

1983 - Record cold hit the north central states. At Havre, MT, the mercury plunged to a record reading of 34 degrees below zero. (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)

1984 - A storm over southern California left up to 16 inches of snow in the mountains and upper deserts, with 13 inches reported at Lancaster. Edwards Air Force Base was closed, and Interstate 5 was closed from Castaic to the Tehachapis Mountains. (18th-19th) (The Weather Channel)

1986 - A strong winter storm, which developed off the coast of New Jersey and moved out to sea, lashed the northeastern U.S. with high winds, heavy rain, and heavy snow. The storm left snowfall amounts of up to 30 inches in Vermont, 24 inches in Massachusetts, and 20 inches in New Hampshire. The highest rainfall amounts approached four inches in southern New England, where winds gusted to 70 mph. (Storm Data)

1987 - A weakening storm moved into the Rocky Mountain Region producing six inches of snow at the Platoro Reservoir in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The storm then spread rain and drizzle across the Southern High Plains into the Middle Mississippi Valley, with thunderstorms over Texas. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1988 - Warm weather prevailed in the central U.S. while cool weather prevailed across the eastern states. Sheridan, WY, with a record warm afternoon high of 68 degrees, was seven degrees warmer than Key West FL. (The National Weather Summary)

1989 - A winter storm moving out of the Great Plains Region spread freezing rain, sleet and snow across parts of the southeastern U.S. Freezing rain resulted in 170 auto accidents in the Memphis area during the evening hours. Unseasonably warm weather continued ahead of arctic cold front. Miami FL equalled their record for December with an afternoon high of 87 degrees. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1998: Atlanta, GA recorded its latest first freeze on record while across the southwest desert, Palm Springs, CA set a record high with 86 °F. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2006: High pressure off the Carolina coast, combined with strong upper level high pressure over the Yucatan Peninsula and a strong trough out west produced a warm southwest flow resulting in record high temperatures from the Mississippi Valley to New York State including: San Antonio, TX: 81 °F-Tied, Mobile, AL: 77 °F-Tied, Charleston, SC: 77 °F-Tied, Sterling (Dulles Airport), VA: 76 °F, Greenville-Spartanburg, SC: 76 °F-Tied, Richmond, VA: 75 °F-Tied, Washington, DC: 74 °F, Tupelo, MS: 74 °F-Tied, Chattanooga, TN: 73 °F, Baltimore, MD: 72 °F, Nashville, TN: 72 °F, Wilmington, DE: 71 °F, Atlantic City, NJ: 71 °F. (Ref. Wilson - Additional Temperatures Listed On This Link)
 

2009 - A monster snow storm affected the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the U.S. on December 18th through December 20th. The storm originated in the Gulf of Mexico and moved northward along the Eastern Seaboard, leaving behind heavy snow accumulations from North Carolina to Massachusetts. Impacts from this storm included the closing of major airports, interstate highways, and rail systems. Over 1,200 flights were cancelled at the three major airports in the New York City area, and hundreds of thousands of people lost power due to the storm. Seven people were reported killed across the Mid-Atlantic (source: Reuters). Over two feet of snow accumulation was reported in portions of North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. At one point, the storm was over 500 miles in width, and affected 14 states and tens of millions of Americans (Source: AFP).

26 / 25 and on the way to (for some) the months warmest highs in the mid / upper 40s, perhaps some of the warmest get to 50.  Rain by the morning Friday and a warm Southerly flow gets most into the mid 50s and some to 60, with around an inch of rain.  Colder Saturday starts a bit of a back and froth colder - Sat, warmer - Sun ,   colder - Mon /Tue.  Then warmer overall by Christmas through around the 29th/30th with the eneext storm threat in the 30-31 period.  Ridge builds in the center with the cold just into the northeast which means a day or two very warm in the period and some quick pull back colder.  Beyond there looks near normal.

Also Jan 7, 2004 - Feb 3, 2004 at EWR consecutive below daily dep

5 minutes ago, bluewave said:

This is the first 20 day below normal streak for the new 1991-2020 climate normals era. XMACIS2 reset all the prior period departures to the 1991-2020 climate normals. So we don’t have the earlier departures based on 1981-2010, 1971-2000, 1961-1990, 1951-1980..etc.   

The period Dec 18, 2000 - Jan 10, 2001 was for EWR.  Will check NYC.

6 hours ago, NEG NAO said:

With the NAO negative - the WPO Negative and MJO hanging around somewhere in Phase 8 - how do you get anywhere close to 60 ?

 

I was referring to this Friday and perhaps one or two days between 12/26 - 12/29

Records:
 

Highs:

EWR: 66 (2000)
NYC: 62 (2000)
LGA: 62 (2021)
JFK: 61 (2021)


Lows:

EWR: 6 (1951)
NYC: 1 (1919)
LGA: 9 (1951)
JFK: 16 (1973)

Historical:

1796: The drought is excessive. From the middle of October to the middle of December, not rain enough to lay the dust. A few days ago there fell a small rain, but the succeeding cold has probably prevented it from sprouting the grain sown during the drought. (Monticello - Thomas Jefferson to James Madison- Jefferson's Garden Book by Edwin Morris Betts page 252)
 

1884 - A three week blockade of snow began at Portland, OR. A record December total of 34 inches was received. (David Ludlum)

1903: Wilbur and Orville Wright made four brief flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with their first powered aircraft on this day. After having success with their 5-foot biplane kite, the brothers realized the weather conditions in Dayton were not ideal for their flying experiments. They wrote the Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C. requesting a list of suitable places on the east coast where winds were constant. Below is the response the Wright Brothers received from Joseph Dosher, who staffed the Weather Bureau office, wrote in August of 1900 regarding the suitability of Kitty Hawk.

1924 - A severe icestorm struck central Illinois. It coated the ground with nearly two inches of glaze at Springfield. The storm caused 21 million dollars damage along with much hardship. Ice was on the trees until the 4th of January, and electricity was not restored until January 10th. (David Ludlum)

1924:  From the Monthly Weather Review, "a severe glaze storm occurred in west-central Illinois on December 17 and 18, the area of great destruction embracing a territory about 75 miles in width and 170 miles in length. In the affected area, trees were badly damaged, wires broken, and thousands of electric poles went down. Electric services were paralyzed, and it required weeks to restore operation and months to permanently rebuild the lines.  The street railway company and the Illinois Traction System resumed complete operation 17 days after the storm. Electric light service was completely restored January 10. The ice had practically disappeared from the trees and wires by January 4, but on January 20, there was still considerable ice on the ground.  The Western Union Telegraph Co. lost 8,000 poles and the Illinois Bell Telephone Co. about 23,000. The total damage to wire service in Illinois probably equaled or exceeded $5,000,000." If the loss of business, the damage to trees and possible injury to winter grains, the storm may be considered one of the most disastrous of its kind in the history of Illinois."

1929 - An icestorm in western New York State resulted in much damage and hardship. A Buffalo report stated, "one was kept awake by the breaking limbs, which snapped off with a report much louder than a rifle shot." (17th-18th) (The Weather Channel)

1930: Greensboro, NC experienced its greatest 24-hour snowfall when 14.3 inches fell. (Ref. AccWeather Weather History)

1932: The 10TH GREATEST Washington, DC snow. The snow began early on the 17th and fell at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour until afternoon with a 12 inch accumulation. It was a rather cold storm with temperatures hovering around 18 degrees F during the height of the snow. Temperatures rapidly warmed after the storm and the snow was gone by Christmas. (p. 58-59 Washington Weather Book 2002 by Ambrose, Henry, Weiss)


1973: 10.2 inches of snow in Washington, DC on 16th and 17th (Washington Weather Records KDCA)

1963: Lake effect snow buried Muskegon, MI with a three day total of 34 inches of snow from the 16th to the 18th. This will be the snowiest December in Muskegon history with a grand total of 82.6 inches. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1964: 20 inches of snow fell at Walla Walla, WA set a state record for December. (Ref. AccWeather Weather History)

1967: A four-day snow and ice storm, described as the worst major ice storm in Oklahoma in more than a decade, ended during the morning hours. The storm affected all but the southeast part of the state, with ice accumulations of a half to 1 inch. Local ice accumulations of 4 inches were reported at Cordell. More than 225 people were treated for injuries, after slipping on the ice. At least 170 of these injuries were in the Oklahoma City area. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1973: A snowstorm along the Mid-Atlantic gave Washington, DC 10.2 inches of pre-Christmas snow. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1983: Billings, MT had a high temperature was -8 °F; this was the first of 8 consecutive days with a high temp below zero, a December record. One of the most severe Arctic outbreaks to affect the Great Plains gripped Oklahoma for more than two weeks in late December. The prolonged cold wave, lasting from the 17th through the 31st, lowered Oklahoma City's average temperature for the month to a cold 25.8 °F, their coldest on record. Locations that reported record low temperatures for the date included: International Falls, MT: -35 °F, Great Falls, MN: -27 °F: Tied, St. Cloud, MN: -24 °F, Valentine, NE: -23 °F, Duluth, MN: -21 °F: Tied, La Crosse, WI: -18 °F, Minneapolis, MN: -17 °F, Marquette, MI: -9 °F, Omaha, NE: -9 °F: Tied and Clayton, NM: 2 °F.(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987 - A storm in the southwestern U.S. brought heavy rain and heavy snow to parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. Charleston NV was blanketed with 12 inches of snow. Lake Havasu City AZ was drenched with 2.26 inches of rain. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1988 - Squalls brought locally heavy snow to the southeastern shores of Lake Michigan. Totals in Michigan ranged up to 14 inches at Harvey. Totals in Ohio ranged up to 16 inches at Chardon. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989 - Twenty-one cities from Kentucky to Pennsylvania reported record low temperatures for the date, including Columbus OH with a reading of 12 degrees below zero. Heavy snow continued in the Colorado Rockies. Vail received 65 inches of snow between the 14th and the 18th of December. Steamboat Springs was buried under 74 inches, and reported a total of 108 inches of snow between the 10th and the 18th of the month. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

2002 - Thunderstorms preceding a strong cold front pushed into the U.S. Mississippi Valley, producing severe weather and tornadoes. Three people were killed in Missouri and Arkansas with more than 40 injuries (Associated Press).

2008 - A winter storm dumped as much as 3.6 inches of snow across Las Vegas, Nevada, prompting the closure of schools and highways. This was the largest December snowfall on record and the heaviest snowfall since January 1979 when a total of 7.5 inches fell (Associated Press).

29 / 21 warm the next 3 days Wed - Fri with perhaps some of the warmest areas touching or close to 60 on Friday, otherwise mid/upper 50s.  Overnight Thu into Fri upto an inch of rain.   Colder Saturday - warmer Sunday- then back down Mon - tue before warming Chirstmas eve.  Overall looking warmer between Christmas and the 30th with strong nationwide ridge perhaps a day in there that approach 60 / record high?.  Colder air just to the north and the warmest is to the south west.   Still would watch the period 12/30-31. 

Through the 15th / first half of Dec Departure

LGA: -8.6
NYC: -8.6
EWR: -7.9
JFK: - 7.6

Records:

Highs:

EWR: 65 (2021)
NYC: 63 (1971)
LGA: 63 (2021)
JFK: 65 (1971)

Lows: 

EWR: 10 (1942)
NYC: 7 (1876)
LGA: 13 (1951)
JFK: 15 (1961)

Historical:

1811: The area around New Madrid, MO was rocked by a powerful earthquake estimated at a magnitude 8.0 or greater on the Richter Scale. It was the first in a series of tremors during the winter of 1811-1812 that would become known as the worst series of earthquakes in U.S. history at this time. For a time the Mississippi River actually ran backwards. Church bells as far away as Charleston, SC and Washington, DC were rung by the tremors, which were felt over a land area of almost one million square miles.
(Ref. AccWeather Weather History)

1835 - New England experienced one of their coldest days of record. At noon on that bitterly cold Wednesday the mercury stood at four degrees below at Boston, 15 degrees below at Norfolk CT, and 17 degrees below at Hanover NH. The temperature at Boston was 12 degrees below zero by sunset. Gale force winds accompanied the severe cold, and that night a great New York City fire destroyed much of the financial district. (David Ludlum)

1890: A big snowstorm began over Pittsburgh, PA on this day and continued into the 17th. 23.9 inches of snow fell in 24 hours, their greatest 24 hour snowfall on record for the city. (Ref. AccWeather Weather History)

1896: Violent northeast gales and snow hit the Boston, Massachusetts area. (Ref. NOAA Boston Weather Events)

1917: An ice jam closed the Ohio River between Warsaw KY and Rising Sun IN. The thirty foot high ice jam held for 58 days, and backed up the river a distance of 100 miles.(David Ludlum)

1917 - An ice jam closed the Ohio River between Warsaw, KY, and Rising Sun, IN. The thirty foot high ice jam held for 58 days, and backed up the river a distance of 100 miles. (David Ludlum)

1941: The U.S. Weather Bureau suspended nationwide weather reports as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1945: Lake effect snow squalls buried Buffalo, NY under 24.3 inches of snow in 24 hours. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1965: The latest first  measurable snowfall in Chicago was recorded on this date in 1965. Snow Trivia for Chicago - NWS

1973: Central Connecticut was crippled by a major ice storm, which knocked out power for days and downed more trees than the New England Hurricane of 1938. Boston, MA had their latest seasonal recorded trace of snow. (Ref. AccWeather Weather History)

1987 - A Pacific storm battered the coast of California with rain and high winds, and dumped heavy snow on the mountains of California. Winds along the coast gusted to 70 mph at Point Arguello, and winds in the Tehachapi Mountains of southern California gusted to 100 mph at Wheeler Ridge. Snowfall totals ranged up to 24 inches at Mammoth Mountain. Snow fell for two minutes at Malibu Beach, and Disneyland was closed due to the weather for only the second time in twenty-four years. A winter storm which began in the Southern Rockies four days earlier finished its course producing snow and high winds in New England. Snowfall totals ranged up to 19 inches at Blanchard ME. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988 - Fairbanks, AK, reported freezing rain and record warm temperatures. The afternoon high of 41 degrees was 43 degrees above normal. Snow and high winds continued to plague the mountains of southern California. Mount Wilson CA reported two inches of rain in six hours during the early morning, and a storm total of more than 3.50 inches of rain. (The National Weather Summary)

1989 - Fifty-seven cities from the Southern and Central Plains to the Appalachians reported record low temperatures for the date, including North Platte NE with a reading of 17 degrees below zero. Squalls in the Great Lakes Region produced 18 inches of snow at Syracuse NY, and 30 inches at Carlisle IND. Low pressure brought heavy snow to northern New England, with 18 inches reported at Derby VT and Saint Johnsbury VT. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

2000 - An F4 tornado hits communities near Tuscaloosa, AL, killing 11 people and injuring 125 others. It was the strongest December tornado in Alabama since 1950.

18 / 14 off a low of 15.  Clear and cold with highs right at or just above freezing 20 more hours.   moderation to and above normal overall Wed through Christmas with one or two days colder in between.   Rain Thu overnight into Fri with upwards of an inch.  Colder on Saturday before moderating again on Sunday.  Beyond Christmas and through the end of the month a bit back and forth overall near normal with a storm threat in the 29 - 30 period.

NWS Mt H

Snow shower/flurries quickly pushing into PA

Ridge center focusing a bit west beyone Christmas in the 12/26 - 12/31 period - could setup the next storm threat with enough cold nearby to the north

Records:
 

Highs:

EWR: 68 (2015)
NYC: 68 (2015)
LGA: 67 (2008)
JFK: 64 (2015)

 

Lows:

EWR: 12 (2005)
NYC: 8 (1874)
LGA: 15 (1962)
JFK: 15 (1962)

Historical:

1839: The first of triple storms hit Massachusetts Bay. The storm produced whole gales, and more than 20 inches of snow in interior New England. There was great loss of life at Gloucester, MA. (David Ludlum)

1847: The board of the Smithsonian Institution appropriated $1,000 for the purchase of weather instruments for Joseph Henry's proposed weather reporting network. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1901: An intense cold front swept across the eastern U.S. The cold front produced heavy rain in Louisiana, and heavy snow in the northeastern U.S. (David Ludlum) (Ref. Wilson - Additional Temperatures Listed On This Link)

1924 - The temperature at Helena, MT, plunged 79 degrees in 24 hours, and 88 degrees in 34 hours. The mercury plummeted from 63 above to 25 below zero. At Fairfield MT the temperature plunged 84 degrees in just 12 hours, from 63 at Noon to 21 below zero at midnight. (David Ludlum)

1945: A record December snowstorm buried Buffalo NY under 36.6 inches of snow, with unofficial totals south of the city ranging up to 70 inches. Travel was brought to a halt by the storm. (14th-17th) (The Weather Channel)

1948: A strong southwesterly flow ahead of a cold front brought record high temperatures from the Southern Plains to the Missouri Valley and Southeast. St. Louis, MO set a record high for December with 76 °F. Other daily record highs included: Brownsville, TX: 84 °F, New Orleans, LA: 81 °F, Baton Rouge, LA: 80 °F, Jackson, MS: 80 °F, Meridian, MS: 80 °F, Savannah, GA: 80 °F, Wichita Falls, TX: 79 °F, Fort Smith, AR: 79 °F, Columbia, SC: 79 °F, Tulsa, OK: 77 °F, Oklahoma City, OK: 75 °F, Springfield, MO: 73 °F, Charlotte, NC: 73 °F, Asheville, NC: 72 °F. (Ref. Wilson - Additional Temperatures Listed On This Link)

1964: The "Great Blizzard" lashed the southern Prairie Provinces in Canada with heavy snow, 55 mph winds and temperatures as low as -30 °F. Three people froze to death and thousands of animals perished. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987 - A powerful storm spread heavy snow from the Southern High Plains to the Middle Mississippi Valley, and produced severe thunderstorms in the Lower Mississippi Valley. During the evening a tornado hit West Memphis TN killing six persons and injuring two hundred others. The tornado left 1500 persons homeless, and left all of the residents of Crittendon County without electricity. Kansas City MO was blanketed with 10.8 inches of snow, a 24 hour record for December, and snowfall totals in the Oklahoma panhandle ranged up to 14 inches. Strong winds, gusting to 63 mph at Austin TX, ushered arctic cold into the Great Plains, and caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

 

1988 - Blowing snow was reported in western Kansas, as snow and gusty winds plagued the Central Rockies and Central High Plains. Colorado Springs CO reported thirteen inches of snow. Low pressure in Wisconsin brought heavy snow to the Lake Superior snowbelt area, with 22 inches reported at Marquette MI. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1989 - High winds and heavy snow prevailed from Montana to Colorado. Snowfall totals in Wyoming ranged up to 20 inches at Burgess Junction, leaving up to 48 inches on the ground in the northeast sections of the state. Wind gusts in Colorado reached 87 mph south of the town of Rollinsville. Strong northwesterly winds continued to produce heavy snow squalls in the Great Lakes Region. Totals in northeastern Lower Michigan ranged up to 29 inches at Hubbard Lake, with 28 inches reported at Posen. Two day totals in northeastern Wisconsin ranged up to thirty inches. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1991: The Tug Hill plateau in New York off of Lake Ontario was targeted by heavy lake effect snow. 44 inches fell at Highmarket and 30 inches piled up at Boonville. Incredible snowfall rates of 6 to 8 inches per hour were reported at Boonville. (Ref. AccWeather Weather History)

1995: An unusually intense storm struck the Pacific Northwest. Heavy rains of 5 to 20 inches accompanied the system, but the high winds and low barometric pressure readings were the main features. Record low sea level pressure readings were recorded at Astoria, OR of 28.53 inches of mercury, Seattle, WA at 28.65 inches of mercury and Medford, OR at 28.93 inches of mercury. Wind gusts reached 119 mph at Sea Lion Caves, OR and 103 mph at Angel Island, CA. Six deaths and over 2 million power outages were attributed to the storm. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2005: Freezing rain and ice pellets fell throughout portions of the southeast U.S. The accumulation of ice caused about 683,000 utilities customers to lose power from northern Georgia northward through the western Carolinas. The power outages were the result of ice accretions of up to three-quarter inch in thickness. The ice storm was blamed for at least four deaths (Associated Press).
(Ref. AccWeather Weather History)
 

2006 - The Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm of 2006 caused storm to hurricane-force wind gusts and heavy rainfall hit the Pacific Northwest and southern British Columbia. Damage estimates in Washington and Oregon totaled $220 million. Over 1.8 million residences and businesses without power. 18 people were killed, most of whom died of carbon monoxide poisoning in the days following the storm because of improper use of barbecue cookers and generators indoors.

2008: A powerful snowstorm, a magnitude that hasn't occurred since 1979, descended on the mountains and high deserts of southern California from this date through the 18th. Impressive snow totals included 54 inches at Big Bear, 36 inches at Wrightwood, 20 inches at Pinon Hills, and 16 inches at Hesperia, Idyllwild and Julian. At times, snow levels were as low as 2,000 feet. In Nevada, Las Vegas reported 0.28 inches of rain with a trace of snow. Areas outside of Las Vegas, received snow totals of 1 to 5 inches. Mt. Charleston, NV received between 15 and 20 inches of snow. Behind the storm and front a 1040 millibar arctic area of high pressure brought record lows to parts of the Plains to the West Coast including: Fort Assinniboine, MT: -31 °F, Havre, MT: -30 °F, White Sulphur Springs, MT: -29 °F, Dillon, MT: -27 °F, Fort Benton, MT: -27 °F, Valentine, MT: -25 °F, Virginia City, MT: -25 °F, Ennis, MT: -21 °F, Casper, WY: -20 °F, Denver, CO: -19 °F (broke previous record by 13 degrees), Cheyenne, WY: -13 °F, Goodland, KS: -10 °F, Yakima, WA: 2 °F and Portland, OR: 22 °F. Out ahead of the storm, Augusta, GA set a record high with 79 °F. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2010 - A rare tornado struck the small town of Aumsville, Oregon, tearing roofs off buildings, hurling objects into vehicles and homes and uprooting trees. No one was injured but the destruction left behind was severe. The National Weather Service classified the tornado as an EF2 with wind speeds of 110-120 mph and they said the tornado's damage trail was five miles long and 150 yards wide. 50 houses in Aumsville and the surrounding county area were affected, with 10 of them being unsuitable for occupancy. (KATU)

20 / 8 off a low of 13.  Clear till around noon.  Near or sub freezing today (coldest of the next 7 days).  Some flurries or snow showers later to maybe whiten up the ground re coat the snow.  A tinge warmer on Tue to / above freexing low-mid 30.s  Moderation to and above normal Wed (low - mid 40s)  Near 50 / Thu with rain developing overnighg into a warmest of the week Fri (50s) and potentially near one inch of rain to melt the snow cover.  Looks like a brief shot of colder on this coming Saturday in an overall warmer than normal period through Christmas day.   Ridge center a bit west keeping the strongest warmth to our south and west but overall near normal the period after christmas to the end of the month with the very cold to the north and warmth just to the south sandwiching the area and a storm threat to close out the period between 30 - 31.

12 Years ago 2013  (DEec 14) 

NYC: 5 inches
LGA: 4.7
EWR: 4.5
JFK: 3.2