December 2025 OBS and Discussion

[jm1220]

Patchy coverage here. My backyard still mostly covered. It's all about to turn rock hard. 

[weathermedic]

52 mph gust at LGA last hour

[donsutherland1]

A weathergami is a unique high-low combination in a city's climate record. This year's weathergamis in the New York City area are below:

[Dark Star]

13 minutes ago, donsutherland1 said:

A weathergami is a unique high-low combination in a city's climate record. This year's weathergamis in the New York City area are below:

Ouch, March 29, 2025 wins the game!

[psv88]

49 for the high ate up most of my snow, still some patches around though. 
 

beautiful warm day in the city to see the sites with the family. That stretch from Bryant park to 52nd street is money 

[uofmiami]

12 minutes ago, psv88 said:

49 for the high ate up most of my snow, still some patches around though. 
 

beautiful warm day in the city to see the sites with the family. That stretch from Bryant park to 52nd street is money 

City was cold this evening with the wind. Heading back now and the wind through the streets was biting.  Only hit 48 with some snow spots left. 

[psv88]

11 minutes ago, uofmiami said:

City was cold this evening with the wind. Heading back now and the wind through the streets was biting.  Only hit 48 with some snow spots left. 

That means you didn’t spend enough time in the stores lol, we hit every store on 5th and worked up a sweat. It really wasn’t windy until we got off the train back on the island. 

[LoboLeader1]

Currently 29 here, had a wind gust earlier in excess of 40mph. 

[bluewave]

 

[lee59]

Wind gust here last evening of 42mph.

[SACRUS]

 

31 / 9 partly - mostly cloudy still gusting. Cold overall now through the 10/11th.  Trough into the northeast with several opportunities for storms.  Snow showers / light snow tomorrow night - Jan 1 - 2.  Next storm threats in the 1/5 - 1/9 timeframe and beyond there.

 

Dec closing with a very deep negative departure.

 

[SACRUS]

Records:

Highs;

EWR: 63 (1984)
NYC: 65 (1984)
LGA: 63 (1984)
JFK: 64 (1984)


Lows:

EWR: -8 (1933) * tied the coldest (recorded)
NYC: -13 (1917)  * coldest
LGA: 3 (1962))3)
JFK: 5 (1962)

Historical:

1880 - The temperature at Charlotte, NC, plunged to an all-time record cold reading of 5 degrees below zero, a record which was equalled on the 21st of January in 1985. (The Weather Channel)


1880: Washington, DC had -7 degrees below zero a record low for the date and a high of 9 degrees F. That makes this day one of only five days in the official climate history of Washington (11-1-1870 to present) to have a maximum temperature less than 10 degrees F.What makes it even more unusual was that it was the SECOND time it happened on the date 12-30. The second time was on 12-30-1917 when the high was also 9 degrees F. A high temperature of 8 degrees has occurred twice - the first time was 1-13-1912 and the second time was 1-19-1994. The coldest maximum ever recorded in Washington occurred on 2-10-1899: 4 degrees F(Ref. Stanley Rossen)
The temperature at Charlotte NC plunged to an all-time record cold reading of 5 degrees below zero, a record that was equaled on the 21st of January in 1985(The Weather Channel)
Philadelphia, PA set their all-time record low with -5 °F. Locations that reported daily record lows included: Havre, MT: -36 °F, Cheyenne, WY: -18 °F, Cleveland, OH: -10 °F, Pittsburgh, PA: -9 °F, Washington, DC: -7 °F, New York (Central Park), NY: -6 °F, Baltimore, MD -3 °F, Atlanta, GA: 1 °F, Nashville, TN: 4 °F, Norfolk, VA: 6 °F, Wilmington, NC: 10 °F.(Ref. Wilson - Additional Temperatures Listed On This Link)

1889: 67 Eastern U.S. cities recorded the coldest December ever; DC had 61.33 inches of snow that set a new record. (Ref. Wilson - Additional Temperatures Listed On This Link)

1915: Flagstaff, AZ recorded 31 inches of snow for its greatest one day snowfall total on record. (Ref. Wilson Wx. History)
 

1917 - A great cold wave set many records in the northeastern U.S. The mercury plunged to 13 degrees below zero at New York City, and to 15 degrees below zero at Boston. Temperature readings dipped below zero at Boston five nights in a row. Berlin NH hit 44 degrees below zero in the "Great World War I Cold Wave," and Saint Johnsbury VT reached 43 degrees below zero. (David Ludlum)

1933 - The temperature reached 50 degrees below zero at Bloomfield, VT. It was the coldest reading in modern records for New England. The temperature at Pittsburgh NH reached 44 degrees below zero. (David Ludlum)

1955 - Anchorage, AK, reported an all-time record snow depth of 47 inches. (30th-1st) (The Weather Channel)

1962: On this date through the 31st, one of the worst blizzards this century occurred in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Parts of Maine received most of the snow with dangerous wind chills the primary effect for New Hampshire and Vermont. Snowfall totals in Maine included 46 inches at Ripogenus Dam and 40 inches fell in just 24 hours at Orono. Drifts reached 20 feet deep at Bangor.(Ref. AccWeather Weather History)

1963: The hottest temperature for 1963 in Eureka, CA, occurred today (with an offshore wind) with its high of 77 degrees. This not only set its all-time December high temperature record, but is 1 degree warmer than its all-time July temperature record. (Ref. Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2011 Accord Pub. 2010, USA)

1968: The minimum temperature at Withrop, Washington was -48 °F and equaled Washington state's record low temperature. (This same record has been equaled on other dates and/or other places in the state.) (Ref. AccWeather Weather History)

1983: Record cold affects the Gulf States. The mercury at Tupelo MS plunged to 7 degrees. For Baton Rouge, LA, it was the coldest week on record and would be the coldest December on record at Corpus Christi TX. (Ref. AccWeather Weather History)
 

1987 - A storm in the western U.S. produced heavy snow in Utah, with 28 inches reported in the Mount Holly and Elk Meadows area. Strong winds prevailed ahead of a cold front in the central U.S. Winds gusted to 46 mph at Dodge City KS, and reached 80 mph at Ruidoso NM. Strong northerly winds, ushering arctic cold into the north central U.S., created blizzard conditions in western Minnesota and central and eastern South Dakota. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1988 - Unseasonably cold weather prevailed in the southwestern U.S. A week of subfreezing temperatures in southern California claimed the lives of five people. Redding CA was blanketed with four inches of snow. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989 - Extreme cold continued across northern Maine. Milo ME was the cold spot in the nation with a morning low of 38 degrees below zero, and the low of 31 degrees below zero at Caribou ME was a December record for that location. Freezing rain spread across much of Lower Michigan, knocking out electrical power to 1.9 million customers in southeastern Lower Michigan. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

2000: A winter storm affected the Mid-Atlantic States into the Northeast. New York City, NY picked up 12 inches of snow as the first major East Coast storm of the winter struck on a weekend, turning the Big Apple into a winter wonderland. Theaters and businesses were still open as preparations for the big New Year's Eve celebration were underway. All three major New York airports were closed and hundreds of flights canceled. Snowfall rates were around 4 inches per hour at times in Sussex County, New Jersey, where as much as 25 inches of snow was reported. While snowfall totals were less further south and west, major cities such as Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and Allentown still received in excess of 6 inches of snow. The large amount of snow was a result of Low Pressure which developed off of the Virginia coast. The storm rapidly intensified as it moved along the Mid-Atlantic coast, passing east of Atlantic City during the afternoon, and across Long Island and into southern New England during the evening and nighttime hours.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History) Ref. (NWS Ranking for Storms between 1956 and 2011) This is the 37th Worst Snowstorm

2003: Las Vegas was blanketed with 1 to 3 inches of snow. (Ref. The Old Farmer's Almanac)

2008 - Severe to extreme drought was observed across parts of the Hawaiian Islands, the western continental U.S., and parts of Georgia and South Carolina. Meanwhile, severe to exceptional drought conditions were present across southern Texas. (NCDC)

[SACRUS]

The storm that started many online tracking 

[SACRUS]

More on th3 1917 cold wave:

 

1917: A great cold wave set many records in the northeastern U.S. The mercury plunged to 13 degrees below zero at New York City. Boston recorded -15 °F and temperature readings dipped below zero at Boston five nights in a row. The temperature at Pittsburgh NH reached 44 degrees below zero.(Ref. AccWeather Weather History)(David Ludlum)

The state record minimum temperature for West Virginia was -37 °F in Lewisburg, WV on this date. The state record minimum temperature for Tennessee was also set on this date at Mountain City, TN and was -32 °F. (Extreme Weather p. 54, by Christopher C. Burt)

Boston, Massachusetts had a severe cold wave from the 27th to the 30th.(Ref. NOAA Boston Weather Events)(Ref. Lowest and Highest Temperatures for the 50 States)

Richmond on December 30, 1917 recorded the lowest temperature ever recorded in the month of December -2 °F. Also the high temperature for the day was only 13 °F making it the coldest December day on record (records since 1897). (Ref. Richmond Weather Records)

The official high temperature in Washington, DC on 12-30-1917 was 9 degrees F and the low was -3 degrees °F. That makes this day one of only five days in the official climate history of Washington (11-1-1870- present) to have a maximum temperature less than 10 degrees F. What makes it even more unusual was that it was the SECOND time it happened on the date 12-30. The first time was on 12-30-1880 when the high was also 9 degrees F.A high temperature of 8 degrees F has occurred twice - the first time was 1-13-1912 and the second time was 1-19-1994.The coldest maximum ever recorded in Washington occurred on 2-10-1899: 4 degrees F (Stanley Rossen)

Boston, Massachusetts had 17 days consecutive days with no measurable precipitation from the 14th to the 30th the longest dry period for December.(Ref. NOAA Boston Weather Events)

[the_other_guy]

42 minutes ago, SACRUS said:

The storm that started many online tracking 

They got Times Square cleared out in no time! Real effort on part of city

[coastalplainsnowman]

1 hour ago, SACRUS said:

The storm that started many online tracking 

As I have said on here a few times, there have been bigger storms, colder storms, storms of longer duration, and storms with larger final totals for sure.  But I have never, ever, ever, seen anything approaching the rate of snow or lack of visibility that I witnessed during about 90 minutes at the peak of this storm.  Nothing before or after was even close.  Also, just incredible to think that this storm was now one quarter of a century ago.  Geez.

[psv88]

I was in Europe for that storm with my family, I was 16. I remember flying in over the island and seeing how amounts increased once we got over western Suffolk. Neighbors told me how fast the snow fell. 

[jm1220]

11 minutes ago, coastalplainsnowman said:

As I have said on here a few times, there have been bigger storms, colder storms, storms of longer duration, and storms with larger final totals for sure.  But I have never, ever, ever, seen anything approaching the rate of snow or lack of visibility that I witnessed during about 90 minutes at the peak of this storm.  Nothing before or after was even close.  Also, just incredible to think that this storm was now one quarter of a century ago.  Geez.

Yep, that storm is king for me of sheer intensity and thunder snow that morning. 

[Stormlover74]

11 minutes ago, coastalplainsnowman said:

As I have said on here a few times, there have been bigger storms, colder storms, storms of longer duration, and storms with larger final totals for sure.  But I have never, ever, ever, seen anything approaching the rate of snow or lack of visibility that I witnessed during about 90 minutes at the peak of this storm.  Nothing before or after was even close.  Also, just incredible to think that this storm was now one quarter of a century ago.  Geez.

Most places that got over 2 feet did so in like 8 to 10 hours. Just crazy rates. And of course that sharp cutoff sw of Philly. Baltimore and DC completely skunked

[PhiEaglesfan712]

13 hours ago, Dark Star said:

Ouch, March 29, 2025 wins the game!

That was the best weather day of the year. I'm sure everyone enjoyed it, well except MJO812. Bring on 80s and sunny any day over the slop we got this weekend.

[uofmiami]

44 minutes ago, the_other_guy said:

They got Times Square cleared out in no time! Real effort on part of city

I was there for that ball drop, they did an amazing job clearing the snow out.  It was cold as hell and something I’ll never do again.  Flew back from FL leaving family behind to be with my then gf, had to fly out a day ahead due to the storm but made it back to NY ahead of it.

[donsutherland1]

Some snow flurries have been occurring in Goshen.

[hooralph]

Legit trauma from 12/30/2000 in Boston. went from 9-14" to 0.0. Only bust I can recall in my life that left bare ground after a high end WSW. if you drove West on the Mass Pike it was 10" by Rt 95/128.

[jm1220]

1 minute ago, hooralph said:

Legit trauma from 12/30/2000 in Boston. went from 9-14" to 0.0. Only bust I can recall in my life that left bare ground after a high end WSW. if you drove West on the Mass Pike it was 10" by Rt 95/128.

Yep, 00-01 was probably a tough one there. The big March 2001 blizzard was also huge just a few miles inland and fairly pedestrian in the city if I remember right. 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

1 hour ago, jm1220 said:

Yep, that storm is king for me of sheer intensity and thunder snow that morning. 

The January 26-27, 2011 snowstorm compares. That was an overnight snow, but I remember the intense thunder snow keeping me awake.

 

[jm1220]

27 minutes ago, PhiEaglesfan712 said:

The January 26-27, 2011 snowstorm compares. That was an overnight snow, but I remember the intense thunder snow keeping me awake.

 

Yep for sure, that would be a close second. 

[steve392]

Seriously, this wind can go e.a.d.  So sick of it. 

 

32 and clear out. 

[NorthShoreWx]

2 hours ago, Stormlover74 said:

Most places that got over 2 feet did so in like 8 to 10 hours. Just crazy rates. And of course that sharp cutoff sw of Philly. Baltimore and DC completely skunked

Philly looked like it was getting skunked too with the snow shield northeast of there, but then it backed up just enough to put them in a heavy band near the edge and they got 8".

[Stormlover74]

1 minute ago, NorthShoreWx said:

Philly looked like it was getting skunked too with the snow shield northeast of there, but then it backed up just enough to put them in a heavy band near the edge and they got 8".

I remember waking up and seeing the back edge clearing south nj and thinking it was about over. Thankfully it slowed and pivoted and we got 6 more hours of heavy snow.

[psv88]

2 hours ago, uofmiami said:

I was there for that ball drop, they did an amazing job clearing the snow out.  It was cold as hell and something I’ll never do again.  Flew back from FL leaving family behind to be with my then gf, had to fly out a day ahead due to the storm but made it back to NY ahead of it.

I hope you married her!

The amount of dumb shit i did for gfs I didnt marry was insane. If i had only known better haha. What a waste!