RSS FeedsIssued by NWS Detroit/Pontiac, MI
000
CXUS53 KDTX 030150
CLMDTW
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI
830 PM EST FRI JAN 2 2009
...................................
...THE DETROIT CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2008...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1971 TO 2000
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1870 TO 2009
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM
NORMAL
................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 69 10/07/5881
LOW -24 10/07/5881
HIGHEST 62 12/27 MM MM
LOWEST 0 12/21 MM MM
AVG. MAXIMUM 34.4 35.9 -1.5
AVG. MINIMUM 20.5 23.4 -2.9
MEAN 27.4 29.6 -2.2
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0
DAYS MAX <= 32 15 10.3 4.7
DAYS MIN <= 32 28 25.8 2.2
DAYS MIN <= 0 1 1.2 -0.2
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 5.19 1967
MINIMUM 0.42 1900
TOTALS 4.07 2.51 1.56
DAILY AVG. 0.13 0.08 0.05
DAYS >= .01 18 MM MM
DAYS >= .10 10 MM MM
DAYS >= .50 2 MM MM
DAYS >= 1.00 0 MM MM
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.01 12/09 TO 12/10
STORM TOTAL MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
MAXIMUM 34.9 1974
MINIMUM 0.0 1889
24 HR TOTAL 7.9 19
TOTALS 21.4 11.1 10.3
LIQUID EQUIV 2.14 1.10 1.04
SINCE 7/1 23.6 14.1 9.5
LIQUID 7/1 2.36
DAYS >= TRACE 26 9.0 17.0
DAYS >= 1.0 7 3.5 3.5
GREATEST
SNOW DEPTH 10R 12/22
12/21
24 HR TOTAL 7.9R MM
STORM TOTAL MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 1154 1099 55
SINCE 7/1 2403 2400 3
COOLING TOTAL 0 0 0
SINCE 1/1 787 736 51
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST MM
LATEST MM
EARLIEST MM
LATEST MM
.................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 11.5
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 46/240 DATE 12/28
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 56/250 DATE 12/28
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 1
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 9
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 21
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 73
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 1
HEAVY RAIN 1 RAIN 7
LIGHT RAIN 11 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 4 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 1 SNOW 7
LIGHT SNOW 25 SLEET 9
FOG 19 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 4
HAZE 16
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
$$
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CLIMATOLOGICAL STATISTICS FOR THE NWS WHITE LAKE - DECEMBER 2008
...TEMPERATURE DATA... ...PRECIPITATION DATA...
AVERAGE MAXIMUM.... 31.5 MONTHLY TOTAL .......... 3.72
AVERAGE MINIMUM.... 16.4 GREATEST IN 24HRS....... 0.80
MONTHLY AVERAGE.... 23.9 ON 19TH
2008 TOTAL..............41.61
...HEATING DEGREE DAYS... ...SNOWFALL DATA...
MONTHLY TOTAL.........1280 MONTHLY TOTAL............34.6
2008-09 SEASON TOTAL..2908 2008-09 SEASON TOTAL.....45.3
...COOLING DEGREE DAYS...
MONTHLY TOTAL.......... 0
2008 TOTAL.............411
==================================================================
CLIMATOLOGICAL SUMMARY FOR DETROIT - DECEMBER 2008
...A COLD AND STORMY MONTH...TO SAY THE LEAST...
...STORM AFTER STORM LEAVES TWO TO THREE FEET OF SNOWFALL OVER MUCH
OF THE METRO DETROIT AREA...NORTH INTO THE NORTHERN SUBURBS...
...MUCH OF THE MONTH AVERAGED AROUND 4 TO 6 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL
UNTIL DRAMATIC WARM-UP NEAR THE END OF THE MONTH...
...STRONG WINDS HIT SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE MONTH...
...SNOW REPORTED 26 OUT OF THE 31 DAYS....
A VERY IMPRESSIVE COLD AND STORMY DECEMBER BEFELL THE INHABITANTS OF
SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN.
FIRST ABOUT THE COLD...
MUCH OF THE MONTH (UP TO ABOUT THE 27TH) AVERAGED FOUR TO SIX DEGREES
BELOW NORMAL. A WARM-UP WITH GUSTO (MORE ABOUT THAT BELOW) WIPED OUT
OVER HALF THAT DEPARTURE ON THE 27TH-29TH. HAD THOSE THREE DAYS NOT
OCCURRED...THE AVERAGE FOR THE MONTH WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSER TO 25
DEGREES (AND JUST ABOUT A DEGREE FROM THE TOP 20 COLDEST DECEMBERS).
AND NOW THE SNOW...
FREQUENT SNOWS THROUGH MUCH OF THE MONTH BROUGHT WELL ABOVE NORMAL SNOW
AMOUNTS TO ALL OF SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN. OFFICIALLY AT DETROIT METRO
AIRPORT...21.4" OF SNOW FELL. THIS IS ABOUT TWICE THE NORMAL AND PLACED
DECEMBER 2008 IN 6TH PLACE FOR SNOWIEST DECEMBERS FOR DETROIT. HERE AT
THE NWS IN WHITE LAKE (AND ONE OF THE HIGHER AMOUNTS IN THE NORTHERN
SUBURBS)...NEARLY THREE FEET /34.6"/ WAS MEASURED FOR DECEMBER.
IRONICALLY...THIS IS NOT OUR /NWS WHITE LAKE/ HIGHEST SNOWFALL FOR
DECEMBER. BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2000...38.8" OF SNOW FELL AT THE NWS
WHICH IS THE MOST FOR A DECEMBER (AND A MONTH) SINCE THE FALL OF 1995.
THE 34.6" THIS PAST DECEMBER IS THE SECOND HIGHEST SNOWFALL FOR
DECEMBER (AND A MONTH) IN WHITE LAKE...WHILE THIRD PLACE FOR SNOWIEST
MONTH BELONGS TO JANUARY OF 1999...WHEN 33.4" FELL. ALONG WITH THE
SNOW...THERE WERE SEVERAL DAYS WHERE MIXED PRECIPITATION (SLEET OR
FREEZING RAIN) OCCURRED IN OVER THE REGION. SOME SORT OF MIXED
PRECIPITATION WAS REPORTED ON NINE DAYS DURING THE MONTH AT DETROIT
METRO AIRPORT.
ON TO THE PARTICULARS...
THE FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH STARTED OUT ON A AGRESSIVE COLD NOTE WITH
TEMPERATURES AVERAGING CLOSE TO 8 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. THE WORST OF IT
CAME ON THE 7TH WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES STRUGGLED TO GET IN THE LOWER
20S. THIS COLD FOLLOWED THE SNOWSTORM OF 11/30-12/1/08 WHEN THE HEAVIEST
SNOWS FELL NORTHWEST OF DETROIT INTO THE NORTHERN SUBURBS WHERE 3 TO 6
INCHES FELL.
MUCH OF THE SECOND WEEK CONTINUED TO AVERAGE BELOW NORMAL BUT NOT
NEARLY AS HARSH AS THE PREVIOUS WEEK. IN FACT...A STORM CENTER PUSHED
MILDER AIR INTO THE REGION ON THE 9TH AND BROUGHT NEARLY AN INCH
/0.97"/ OF RAIN AT DETROIT METRO AIRPORT. LATER...A BRIEF (ABOUT 24
HOURS WORTH) WARM-UP SURGED INTO THE AREA FROM THE EVENING OF THE 14TH
INTO THE AFTERNOON OF THE 15TH. TEMPERATURES ROSE INTO THE LOWER 50S BY
MIDNIGHT AND HELD MAINLY IN THE MID 40S TO NEAR 50 THEREAFTER. THEN...
LATER ON THE 15TH...A STRONG ARCTIC FRONT BLASTED THE REGION BY MID
AFTERNOON AND BY EARLY EVENING...TEMPERATURES HAD PLUNGED INTO THE
TEENS TO AROUND 20. THIS BUSY ROLLER-COASTER PATTERN WAS TO RETURN
MANY TIMES THE REST OF THE MONTH.
OUR BIGGEST SNOWSTORM OF THE MONTH CAME ON THE 19TH WHEN A STORM SURGED
EAST NORTHEAST THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE SOUTHERN LAKES.
SNOWFALLS RANGED FROM AROUND 4 INCHES NEAR THE OHIO BORDER...TO AROUND
8 INCHES ACROSS METRO DETROIT AND ANN ARBOR...AND UP TO AROUND A FOOT
IN NORTHERN OAKLAND COUNTY. AFTER THE STORM ANOTHER STRONG SURGE OF
FRESH ARCTIC AIR (THE WORST OF THE MONTH) BLEW IN ON WIND GUSTS INTO THE
40S /MPH/ ON THE 21ST. DETROIT METRO REPORTED A MAX WIND GUST OF 40 MPH
ON THE 21ND ALONG WITH TEMPERATURE HIGHS IN THE MID TEENS. WIND CHILL
ADVISORIES WERE HOISTED AND WIND CHILLS DOVE DOWN TO BETWEEN -20 TO -30
AT THEIR WORST FROM THE AFTERNOON OF THE 21ST TO EARLY MORNING OF THE
22ND.
THE STORMY PATTERN CONTINUED THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH WITH LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEMS IN VARYING STRENGTHS BRINGING FREQUENT SNOWS RIGHT UP
TO CHRISTMAS. A WHITE CHRISTMAS WAS SEEN ACROSS NEARLY ALL (IF NOT ALL)
OF SOUTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN AS MOST AREAS STILL HARBORED THE RESIDUAL
HEAVY SNOW COVER FROM THE PAST SEVERAL SNOWS OF DECEMBER. THE SNOWCOVER
DID...HOWEVER...BEGAN TO MELT IN EARNEST FROM MILDER WEATHER THAT SET
IN FROM CHRISTMAS EVE THROUGH THE 26TH. HOWEVER...THE BIG SURGE OF
UNSEASONABLY WARM AIR OVERSPREAD THE COLD...SNOWCOVERED GROUND ON THE
27TH AND 28TH. TEMPERATURES PEAKED OUT INTO THE LOWER 60S ON THE 27TH
(DESPITE THE SNOWCOVER) AND ESTABLISHED A NEW RECORD HIGH 62 /PREVIOUS
58-1971/. IN ADDITION...WIDESPREAD FOG...SOME OF IT DENSE WAS CREATED
AT TIMES AS THE SNOW MELTED UNDER THE WARM MOIST AIR ON THE 24TH...26TH
AND 27TH.
IF ALL THAT WASN`T ENOUGH...STRONG WINDS BELTED SOUTHEAST LOWER
MICHIGAN SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE MONTH. WIND GUSTS OF AROUND 40 MPH
OR BETTER WERE REPORTED ON THE 15TH /43 MPH/...19TH /39 MPH/...21ST
/40 MPH/...24TH /46 MPH/...27TH /39 MPH/...28TH /56 MPH/ AND THE 29TH
/48 MPH/. THE LATTER PART OF THE MONTH /27-29TH/ SAW MOST OF THE POWER
OUTAGES AND DAMAGE...ESPECIALLY ON THE 28TH WHEN THE WINDS GUSTED UP TO
AROUND 60 MPH AT SOME LOCATIONS. COLD WEATHER RUSHED BACK INTO THE
REGION IN TIME FOR NEW YEARS EVE ALONG WITH AN INCH OR TWO OF FRESH
SNOW EARLY IN THE DAY.
AS MIGHT BE EXPECTED...THE FREQUENT STORMS BROUGHT ENOUGH PRECIPITATION
TO THE REGION TO RANK THE MONTH ALSO IN THE TOP 20 WETTEST DECEMBERS.
THE 4.07" FOR THE MONTH RANKED IN AT 13TH FOR WETTEST DECEMBERS.
OUR ANALOGUE WINTERS WERE ON THE MARK WITH OUR WINTER OUTLOOK CALLING FOR
A COLD AND STORMY BEGINNING TO THE WINTER. FOR JANUARY...TEMPERATURES STILL
HAD BETTER CHANCES TO AVERAGE NORMAL TO BELOW...WHILE SNOWFALLS WERE NORMAL
TO ABOVE (BUT SNOWFALLS WERE STILL QUITE VARIABLE DEPENDING ON YEAR AND
EVEN LOCATION WITHIN THAT YEAR). LETS HOPE WE DIDN`T HAVE OUR JANUARY THAW
IN LATE DECEMBER.
LOOK FOR A MID-WINTER UPDATE LATER IN THE MONTH.
DEEDLER
