As we make an effort to figure out the weather around here for Christmas week, we see some similarities in this years upper air pattern, and that seen in December 1983 and December 1989. In the December 1983 cold wave, the lowest temperature in Birmingham was 2 degrees above zero, recorded on Christmas morning. Another cold air blast followed that arrives at the end of the month, and we reached 9 degrees on December 31, 1983. And, in the 1989 cold wave, Birmingham dropped to one degree above zero on December 23, and 4 degrees on December 24. Many ponds were frozen in both events.
Am I saying it will be that cold here in December 2004? No. I am simply saying there is some similarity in the upper air pattern. We just don’t have any real skill in anything specific beyond seven days, but we can look at trends and patterns, and the pattern favors very cold air reaching the deep south from time to time. And, yes, I would be surprised if we went through the rest of December without a snow or ice threat around here. And, no, I am not saying there will be a white Christmas. But at least there is some hope for those of you dreaming of a white Christmas. We remind you we have never seen a white Christmas here in the classic sense (a blanket of snow on the ground on Christmas morning).
While we are talking cold weather, we are forecasting a low of 18 degrees for tomorrow morning. If we reach that, it will be the second coldest temperature in Birmingham in 2004, surpassed only by a low of 15 degrees measured on January 7. And, if we happen to reach the single digits later this month, it will be the first time that has happened in Birmingham since January 24, 2003 when the mercury here dropped to 7 degrees.
Am I saying it will be that cold here in December 2004? No. I am simply saying there is some similarity in the upper air pattern. We just don’t have any real skill in anything specific beyond seven days, but we can look at trends and patterns, and the pattern favors very cold air reaching the deep south from time to time. And, yes, I would be surprised if we went through the rest of December without a snow or ice threat around here. And, no, I am not saying there will be a white Christmas. But at least there is some hope for those of you dreaming of a white Christmas. We remind you we have never seen a white Christmas here in the classic sense (a blanket of snow on the ground on Christmas morning).
While we are talking cold weather, we are forecasting a low of 18 degrees for tomorrow morning. If we reach that, it will be the second coldest temperature in Birmingham in 2004, surpassed only by a low of 15 degrees measured on January 7. And, if we happen to reach the single digits later this month, it will be the first time that has happened in Birmingham since January 24, 2003 when the mercury here dropped to 7 degrees.