Unusual Christmas weather

Primarily based on climatological information since 1895, many areas in Coeur d’Alene and different areas in North Idaho have seen at the very least a hint of snow on the bottom on Dec. 25 over 50% of the time. From 2018 via 2020, snow on the bottom on Christmas Day was minimal. We did have an inch on the bottom in 2018, however there was not sufficient snow in 2019 or 2020 to qualify as a White Christmas. Final yr, we did have 6 inches on the bottom Dec. 25, and 2022 will probably be one other yr we will rely on a White Christmas within the decrease elevations of the Inland Northwest.

The primary half of December has actually been frigid throughout the area. The typical excessive temperature at Cliff’s station has been underneath the freezing mark, shut to twenty-eight levels. And this week, it’s going to be even colder with highs principally within the teenagers and 20s. Extra snow is anticipated later this week, so the quantity of snow on the bottom within the Coeur d’Alene space must be round a foot over the subsequent week. A number of the outlying areas will seemingly have extra.

As we get towards Christmas Day, it appears to be like like milder air will probably be pushing into the northwestern U.S. Excessive temperatures ought to climb into the 30s throughout our area. There’s one other storm that’s anticipated to reach round Christmas Day. Nevertheless, don’t be shocked to see a rain and snow combine from this method. If the storm brings extra rain than snow, there’ll nonetheless be loads of snow on the bottom to offer our area a White Christmas. This additionally consists of the Spokane area because the airport has reported over a foot of snow on the bottom since final week.

The primary a part of the 2023 may begin out with extra rain than snow throughout the Inland Northwest. Then, colder air ought to transfer again into the area and produce extra snowfall to the world. As Cliff and I discussed, we consider the second half of this winter season won’t be as snowy as the primary half because the cooler La Nina sea-surface temperature occasion within the south-central Pacific Ocean is beginning to weaken.

Trying again on the climatological information for Coeur d’Alene, the coldest Christmas Day occurred manner again in 1924 with a low of -4 levels. In contrast, the warmest Dec. 25 was in 1980 with a light 54 levels. That day in 1980 was additionally the wettest as 0.79 inches of rain fell. Essentially the most snow to ever fall on Christmas Day was in 1923 with 4.8 inches. December of 2008 was a wild month when a document 87.4 inches fell in Coeur d’Alene. Cliff reported 3.6 inches from a storm on Dec. 25.

In 2016, there was over 13 inches of snow on the bottom on Dec. 25. We had plenty of snow in December of 2015 as Cliff reported over 21 inches on the bottom on Christmas Day. Nevertheless, through the huge snowy season of 2007-08, there was a document 44 inches of snow on the bottom on Dec. 25, 2007.

Throughout the U.S., many areas have seen all kinds of climate on Christmas Day. A number of the coldest climate has been reported within the north-central and northeastern portion of the nation as excessive temperatures have occasional stayed beneath zero. In keeping with information from the Nationwide Climate Service, the coldest Christmas Days throughout the northern U.S. occurred within the 1800s. For instance, it was -35 levels in Bismarck, N.D., on Dec. 25. Amazingly, Minneapolis was even colder with a low of -39 levels in 1879.

After all, the coldest readings on Christmas Day are in Alaska. In 1961, it was brutally chilly as Fairbanks reported a low of -56 levels. The excessive temperature for the day was -50 levels. Anchorage, Alaska, dropped all the way down to -25 levels on that date.

In keeping with the Nationwide Climatic Information Heart, through the Christmas vacation weekend in 2010, blizzard situations swept throughout the jap U.S. from North Carolina to Maine. As much as 32 inches of snow fell throughout a few of these areas. New York Metropolis piled up over two ft of snow, 24.5 inches, that shut down all main types of transportation.

After we consider locations that obtain a White Christmas, they’re often the northern parts of the nation. However in 2004, 4.4 inches of snow fell in Corpus Christi, Texas. In 1988, Las Vegas reported snow on the bottom for the primary time in historical past. Even in heat Arizona, the residents in Tucson had been shocked to see as much as 4 inches of latest snow in 1987.

A number of the warmest climate on Christmas Day was within the southwestern portion of the nation. Phoenix, Ariz., went to 78 levels in 1980. Nevertheless, Los Angeles was hotter with a excessive of 85 levels on that date. The warmest temperature for Dec. 25 within the U.S. that I may discover was in Honolulu, Hawaii, because the mercury hit 86 levels in 1995. Miami, Fla., did hit 85 levels in 2016.

Merry Christmas! Randy Mann and Cliff Harris.

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Contact Randy Mann at randy@longrangeweather.com.