The Nations Weather

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

In the eastern two-thirds of the country, a storm system brought a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain to portions of interior Pennsylvania, the Appalachians, the Ohio Valley, and into portions of the Ozarks. The freezing rain was most widespread across interior Pennsylvania during the evening hours, with up to 0.15 inches of ice accumulation in spots. This was enough to make roads slick. This created several traffic accidents. The activity was in the form of snow across the Great Lakes and southern New England. Snow accumulations of 1 to four inches were common across the region. 4.3 inches of snow fell in Northbrook, Illinois. To the south, isolated rain showers fell across the Mid-Atlantic, the Tennessee Valley, and the Gulf Coast. These were not heavy. Dry and cold conditions occurred across the central and southern Plains. High temperatures were some 10-25 degrees below normal across the region. The frigid temperatures that have gripped the northern Plains as of late began to warm up a little bit. Temperatures were able to climb to zero in some locations, with most others still in the minus single digits. Elsewhere, the lone warm spots were across the Southeast where temperatures surged into the 70s and low 80s.

In the West, a storm system brought scattered rain and mountain snow showers to central and southern California, along with the Desert southwest and portions of the southern Rockies. The most activity occurred across the Desert Southwest and the southern Rockies where snow accumulations of 8 to 16 inches occurred. Hart Prairie, Arizona received 16 inches of snow. Rain in the lower elevations was 0.50 to 1.25 inches, most of which occurred in the foothills. Rain and snow was less intense across central and southern California. Snow accumulations of 3-8 inches were common across the central and southern Sierra Nevada. Rain totals of up to a half an inch occurred in the lower elevations. Meanwhile, scattered light snow showers occurred across the Great Basin and the central Rockies. Snow accumulations of a trace to 2 inches, along with 2-5 inches of higher elevation snow, were generally observed. High pressure brought dry conditions to the Pacific Northwest and the northern Rockies. However, cold temperatures continued to plague the areas.

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR YESTERDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............84 Tampa, FL

.............................................. Vandenburg, FL

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)..............85 Miami, FL

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............-35 Longville, MN

.............................................. Babbitt, MN

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)..............-61 Minot, ND

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................51 Clines Corner, NM

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............1.38 Carefree Ranch, AZ

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1884, the first day of a snowy three week period in Portland, Oregon occurred. A total of 34 inches would fall by the end of the month, setting a December record.

In 1930, 14.3 inches of snow fell in Greensboro, North Carolina. This marked the citys greatest 24 hour snowfall on record.

In 1964, the mercury plunged to minus 20 degrees at Walla Walla, Washington to set a state record for the month of December.

DTN-Meteorlogix

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