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When people say "bi-polar" or unpredictable weather because of a sudden change when it's just a forecasted front. Or the whole "don't like the weather, wait a few minutes". Or at least that applied to a large area (I think people in every state east of the Rockies say this). There are probably some microclimates that actually feature very rapid changes that aren't due to a front, etc. but usually it's just people didn't check the forecast.
Or my favorite "only in (insert state here) does it go from 70 to 30 in one day"! When pretty much anywhere east of the Rockies can have that happen.
Should have said "March 6" but it's the 90 coldest days by mean temperature in most temperate zone northern cities. For example in New York City the normal high and low, over a thirty year period of 1981-2010 for December 6 is 46 and 35. For March 6 it is 46 and 32. For Chicago the corresponding numbers are 38 and 24 for December 6, and 43 and 26 for March 6. It is admittedly not a perfect fit but those dates come close to matching temperatures on their December slide and March ascent.
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Originally Posted by jbgusa
Should have said "March 6" but it's the 90 coldest days by mean temperature in most temperate zone northern cities. For example in New York City the normal high and low, over a thirty year period of 1981-2010 for December 6 is 46 and 35. For March 6 it is 46 and 32. For Chicago the corresponding numbers are 38 and 24 for December 6, and 43 and 26 for March 6. It is admittedly not a perfect fit but those dates come close to matching temperatures on their December slide and March ascent.
I consider winter Nov 21-Mar 10, I honestly don't think the seasons are all exact equal length
I consider winter Nov 21-Mar 10, I honestly don't think the seasons are all exact equal length
That's fair enough. And in some years obviously fall lingers well into December or, like 2006-7 or last year into early January, and some years it starts with a vengeance early and lets up in late March. Or there are years like 2013-4 and 2014-5 where winter suddenly takes hold right around the New Year and doesn't let go till the end of March. But as a weather buff I use equal length periods and try to guestimate what those are. In my neck of the woods December 6 to March 6 for winter and June 6 to September 6 for summer seems to work well.
For summer while there are often stray 90 degree days earlier or later, that period tends to capture most of the official heat waves of three days or more over 90, and all 100+ days. Some summers such as 1976 and 2009 have their major heat wave in April and then little but scattered hot days thereafter but that is rare. Others such as 1972 and 2014 get their first 90 degree day in early July (July 2 in both cases) and then summer stretches through much of September. But certain things require averages for intelligent discussion.
Or my favorite "only in (insert state here) does it go from 70 to 30 in one day"! When pretty much anywhere east of the Rockies can have that happen.
Yep that's another common one. I grew up in GA and went to undergrad in TX and I got to see friends in both places on FB say the same thing. Although I will say the front that just passed through Texas was pretty ridiculous. Still, it's hardly such a localized thing.
Yep that's another common one. I grew up in GA and went to undergrad in TX and I got to see friends in both places on FB say the same thing. Although I will say the front that just passed through Texas was pretty ridiculous. Still, it's hardly such a localized thing.
In January 2014 we dropped from 55 to 19 between 9 a.m. and midnight on January 6, (link), and to 4F by 9:00 a.m. the next morning, on January 7 (link). In my book that counts as a 51 degree drop in a day.
Or my favorite "only in (insert state here) does it go from 70 to 30 in one day"! When pretty much anywhere east of the Rockies can have that happen.
And get this: they say that line even after watching forecasts on TV, computer, etc from their local station, which shows the front clearly traversing through wide swaths of the country.
In January 2014 we dropped from 55 to 19 between 9 a.m. and midnight on January 6, (link), and to 4F by 9:00 a.m. the next morning, on January 7 (link). In my book that counts as a 51 degree drop in a day.
That system was crazy. We dropped from 50F to 2F in 12 hours.
In January 2014 we dropped from 55 to 19 between 9 a.m. and midnight on January 6, (link), and to 4F by 9:00 a.m. the next morning, on January 7 (link). In my book that counts as a 51 degree drop in a day.
That's pretty impressive. I don't remember the last time Atlanta had such a strong drop. With this front we're not even supposed to drop below freezing which is quite surprising given Nashville was in the 20s today. Even Houston has been/will be colder than us.
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