Christmas Statistics for the Climatic Fanatic!

First of all, Merry Christmas! And, although it looks like precipitation with the cold, cloudy conditions out there this evening and tonight, we will not be having a White Christmas this year. I say that even though there remains a possibility of a few flurries in the extreme eastern counties and adjacent SW MO and NW Ark during the overnight and early morning hours. Otherwise, our Christmas Day will start off cloudy and cold with decreasing cloud cover by afternoon and a brisk northerly wind to keep us in the 30s throughout the day.

In case you are wondering about some Christmas Day climate statistics, the following should satisfy the climatic fanatic:

Highest Temp: 73 1922

Lowest Temp:   -2  1983

Lowest Max Temp:  12 1983

Highest Min Temp:   51 1971

Avg High:  47 

Avg Low:  28

Maximum Precip:   1.29" 1987(trace snow)

Maximum Snowfall:  1.3" 1975

By the way, a White Christmas is defined as one in which there is at least 1" of snow on the ground that morning. Obviously, the snow does not have to have fallen on Christmas Day. Last year, only .4" of snow fell on Christmas Day as most of the snowfall from last years blizzard event fell on Christmas eve. Previous years that would qualify as a White Christmas are: 2009, 2002, 2000, 1983, 1975, and 1966. Also, these records are based on the official data base maintained for Tulsa and should be generally applicable to the surrounding area.

Again, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and prosperous New Year!

Dick Faurot