Warmer Pattern Dominates the Eastern CONUS

[gatorcane]

Some threads talk about the warmth but its pretty unbelievable and it looks like it will stay that way for at least the next 7-10 days......I'm looking at some of the highs forecasted for the Ohio River valley and I am seeing the 50s to even some 60s with lows in the 40s and 50s and its mid December! Where is the cold? Hello global warming.

Except for the very beginning of December looks like the rest of the month has been way above normal. Remember though El Nino winters typically feature very cold Jan-March so I think the Eastern CONUS is on borrowed time right now.

[Extremeweatherguy]

The central plains has had a very cold start to December. Here in Houston we averaged about 9-degrees below normal for the first 10 days! This warm up now only looks to last for another week for us (and less in the west), and the last 10 days could very well end up below normal temperature-wise for many in the U.S. (especially in the south compared to the means). This does not look like it will be a record warm December by any means. In fact, many areas will likely average near or below normal for the month when it is all said and done.

BTW: I don't see Global warming written over this at all. Warm ups and cool downs are a normal cycle. People tend to forget that this happens all the time. Most winters are never just continuously cold.

[Janie2006]

The relative warmth most of us are experiencing is due the the ridging following the passage of the last longwave trough, correct? If so, then this wx pattern isn't at all unusual and the current pattern won't last all that long. Winter shall return.

It appears the models are predicting the next longwave trough to start affecting the US rather shortly.

[Bane]

winter hasn't officially arrived yet.

[Below N.O.]

The central plains has had a very cold start to December. Here in Houston we averaged about 9-degrees below normal for the first 10 days! This warm up now only looks to last for another week for us (and less in the west), and the last 10 days could very well end up below normal temperature-wise for many in the U.S. (especially in the south compared to the means). This does not look like it will be a record warm December by any means. In fact, many areas will likely average near or below normal for the month when it is all said and done.

BTW: I don't see Global warming written over this at all. Warm ups and cool downs are a normal cycle. People tend to forget that this happens all the time. Most winters are never just continuously cold.

Unless, like me, you grew up in the 1970's.

Below N.O.