From AccuWeather…
December Cold Waves for Plains, Midwest, East
By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist
Nov 30, 2011; 12:00 PM ET
Arctic air is on the move and December will be significantly colder when compared to November for much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation as a result.
The movement of cold air will be much more aggressive during December than what we have seen during November for the Plains, Midwest and Northeast.
According to Long-Range Weather Expert Paul Pastelok, “The cold waves, although transient, will likely produce either near-normal temperatures or even below-normal temperatures for much of the Plains and the Northeast.”
December is typically colder than November, on average. That’s a “no-brainer.”
However, during this December, some places may average more than 20 degrees colder than November.
“For some people that will be quite a shock,” Pastelok said.
In Chicago, for example, the normal average temperature for November is about 41 degrees. During December, the normal average temperature is around 28 degrees.
So, even if December ends up being near normal for your location, it will be substantially colder than the blissful November. November brought temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees above normal over much of the central and eastern United States.
Chicago could average several degrees below normal during this December.
Despite the expected much lower temperatures, it does not appear there will be long-lasting frigid weather for most places this month.
The real frigid days over the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest will be canceled out by a few days of slightly above-average temperatures. Hence the in-and-out effect. But, that means there will be some days with highs in the single digits and teens in the region and perhaps no days with highs in the 50s and 60s.
Waves of arctic air will sweep down from the Canada Prairies dive into the Plains then sweep northeastward before lifting out.
The worst and most of the cold waves would tend to avoid the southeastern U.S.
The roots of one cold wave are already being established in the West now. That cold air will ooze eastward over the Plains this weekend and then into the Northeast early next week.
A much more substantial blast of cold air will follow during the second half of next week and will bring the lowest temperatures of the season so far over much of the Plains and the Upper Midwest. However, that too will lift out after several days.
One argument toward generally colder weather in the central and eastern U.S. is the retreat of frigid air from Alaska.
Depending on where the leading edge of the cold air pauses or runs out of gas will determine the storm track during this period.
There is the potential for multiple storms to track from the South Central states to either the Great Lakes or the Northeast. The exact track of each storm will have great impact on which areas get snow, which areas get rain and which areas get little or no precipitation.
I heard about this and next week is gonna get pretty cold for day time highs. And at one time next wednesday was suppose to be 25 for a day time high but now it’s at 30 But this is what i been waiting for. all this cold will be flowing Albert Clipper style to my area then go towards the eastcoast. And i was just in Boston a week ago and it was in the 60′s i was suprised cause usaly my area and Boston is cold around this time of the year. But thats about to change for the good gonna get really cold around here. And i hope to god it snows.. We’ll see..
Dan
Looks like I’m just outside of the cold zone… on the warmer side of the jet stream. Generally leads to a mild, wet pattern while that lasts. Looks cold for those on the other side!
Brrrr!! It’s cold out side right now here in West Virginia!!! It was in the mid 40′s today and windy. Going down to around 29 or 30 tonight.
U post that but wheres the col in South Carolina?
Cold i meant.
Its always **** down here.
But what about for the Mid-Atlantic??
sorry snowboi but you may not see much cold this year.got down to 17-18 degrees here lastnight.may see a 1″ of snow tonight/tom. morning.then may see 2-8″ sat-sun depends on where storm tracks.then more chances possibly monday and thursday.temps by mon-tues are supposed to be in the mid 20′s for highs and teens for lows.also,on accuweather there are 7 chances out of the 15 day forecast for snow.i think winter is about to make a apperance in my neck of the woods.so if you guys down in the se like cold and snow,move to the upper mid-west or alaska.
02nxzx136 it’s not that easy to uproot your family, especially if you have a decent job where you are. We can and have gotten in December before, that’s why we want it again! All we’re asking is..”if you see a chance for the whitestuff in our area” That’s all. Thanks for the update.
me, i am still waiting for a colder shot to come my way here in Maryland so that way, if the next storm comes in time, we’ll have a chance for some snow.
hummm…. the odds are getting better!
@KatD-Mo.
Really? that’s cool. Thats pretty good.
I just hope to see some snow sometime this month.
Well, like I have said before, it is shaping up to be a cold and snowy winter here in Monument, and that little prediction I mad a while back is coming to fruition, we have had 2 storms hit us just this week, about 8 inches of snow accumulated between the 2, right now we have 6 inches on the ground..and roads are still icy…highs since December 1st have failed to get above about 30 degrees, and lows have been in the single digits and teens, and now we will get another 4 to 8 inches of snow on top of what we have now, so by this time tomorrow, we will have around a foot snowpack here, along with highs Monday that will not get much above 12 degrees with lows below 0 for the next few nights, and it looks like in the long range, that there are several opportunities for more arctic outbreaks and snowstorms over the next few weeks,and in between those intrusions, it looks like temps will hold steady in the 30s…winter has finally arrived, and it looks like it’s going to be a good one this year for much of Colorado.
Perhaps a white Christmas is a possibility this year!
(((sigh))) its missing me again. if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have none at all.
Hey Kat im the same as we dont even get enough winter here in South Carolina to even call it winter anymore.Winter is not just dec-feb to me.Sucks
And even that dec-feb crap isnt winter all the time then.I miss winter lasting at least til mid march.
@snowboil
lol well I’m still waiting for my snow here in Maryland so don’t feel bad lol
Bummer. we’re scheduled for an other warm up. almost to 60, in December. well, it saves on the heating bill.
PNW will be getting snow too! Yay.
http://www.bcsouthweather.com/SeWA.php?page=PNW_Get_Ready_for_Snow_1323545481
So, how did this forecast pan out? Has anybody actually had a cold December? It’s been quite mild up here. Good for the heating bill I suppose.