Most of U.S. Experiencing Significantly Warmer Than Average December

Posted: December 30, 2023 9:01 am

In addition to being particularly wet for the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic, December of 2023 will also go down as one of the warmest Decembers in history. The final data is still coming in as the month comes to a close but it is looking more and more likely that this month will be distinguished as being significantly warmer than usual even in areas that typically begin to see bone-chilling cold temperatures by this time of the season. Here is what the data is revealing about the trends of December of 2023.

Mercury Hovers Well Above Normal in December in the U.S.

Most Americans have enjoyed unseasonably warm weather for most of December. Not only has this warmth been more comfortable for outdoor activities but it has also helped to reduce heating costs.

Almost every reporting site across the lower 48 states detailed temperatures that were above the historical average for December. The fact that nearly all of the data showed the same trend is what is most remarkable. In a normal year, there tends to be warmer and colder zones of air spread across the country.

Forecasters explain that while it is quite normal for temperatures to hover a degree or two below or above the historical average for the entirety of the month, it is not usual for these readings to encompass nearly all of the reporting sites.

The Arctic air that usually begins to infiltrate south into the U.S. has remained mostly in Siberia so far this season, helping the northern tier of the country to avoid the usual cold snaps. The absence of Arctic air has been demonstrated in the average readings this month in International Falls, Minnesota, a city known for being one of the coldest regions of the lower 48. The average temperature as of December 27 for the month came in at 28.1 degrees, a substantial difference of 15.6 degrees over the historical average for December.

North Central U.S. Experiences Warmest Departure from Normal

The warm December has been most apparent across the North Central U.S. This part of the country has seen readings soar over 10 degrees above the norm for December. For example, Minneapolis is currently reading 12.4 degrees above the average for December while Fargo, North Dakota is sitting at 15.8 degrees over the norm.

While the temperature departures have not been quite as dramatic heading to the south, it has still been noticeably warmer than usual for most communities. Cities such as Pittsburgh, Chicago, and St. Louis have been nearly 9 degrees above the monthly average. Dallas and Denver have trended 5 degrees above the norm.

Most of the populated cities along the Interstate 95 corridors have seen temperatures readings hover about 2 to 5 degrees above average for the month. This includes Washington, D.C, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. It has been the same situation on the West Coast with metro areas such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and up into Portland all seeing the same temperature departure.

Some cities have recorded their warmest December ever on record. This includes the aforementioned Fargo, International Falls, and Minneapolis. For instance, the warmest December in history in the Twin Cities happened in 1877 with an average reading of 33.8 degrees. As of December 26, Minneapolis is hovering at an average of 35 degrees, over one full degree higher than the record from 146 years ago.

A similar story has unfolded in Fargo with the December of 2023 clocking in at a whopping 6 degrees above the previous record of 25.9 degrees, going back to 1959. Overnight lows have also been particularly warm in this North Dakota city, landing in the 20s and the 30s most nights rather than in the mid-single digits as is usually the case.

In a number of cases, the extreme temperature departures represent the warmest December on record, with some measurements dating back more than 100 years. Fargo, International Falls, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Las Vegas are among the cities on pace to have their warmest December ever.

The warm December is simply a continuation of the trend for the year. Climatologists are predicting that a handful of U.S. cities, mostly in the South, will end up seeing the warmest year in history. These cities likely to break new records include New Orleans, Houston, and Nashville.

How long will this warmth hang on? The long-range forecast is predicting that a mass of Arctic air will make its way into portions of the eastern and central U.S. during the latter half of January. In other words, there is still plenty of time for winter to make its presence known.

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