What month is it?

2006 is ending the same way it began, with well above normal temperatures. After one of the warmest Januarys on record, December is also likely to be the one of the top ten warmest, as temperatures have averaged about eight degrees above normal. It has rained most of the day and there was a period of heavy rain just a couple of hours ago. It feels like it should be October 31st instead of December 31st. The rain is expected to change to snow later tonight, but if no measurable snow falls before midnight in La Crosse, December 2006 will tie with two other years as the least-snowy on record in that city.

Despite what they say, no forecaster can accurately predict the weather for the year to come. No one really knows what kind of weather 2007 will bring, but it stands to reason that this unseasonably mild winter weather can't last forever. The afternoon forecaster at the La Crosse weather service noted that some changes may take place in a week or so as some colder air will attempt to move south into the northern United States, but it is too far in the future to predict with much certainty. The proverbial other shoe will drop sooner or later, and I fear it will stomp loudly and forcefully. Our weather has been too tame for too long.

First Day of Winter

Winter officially arrives at 6:22 p.m. on December 21st. Don't expect the weather to follow suit. We are going to be on the warm side of a major winter storm traversing the country beginning Wednesday night. Warm = rain. Maybe some freezing rain or drizzle, but the best chance for that will be to our north. Enough cold air could wrap into the system by late Thursday night and Friday to produce some snow, but it isn't expected to accumulate. Our chances for a white Christmas have pretty much disappeared (not that they ever really existed, with the recent warm spell). No other big storms are in the immediate future, as mild Pacific air will continue to flow into the region.

I fear January. Despite this being an El Niño winter, I am afraid January could end up being the exact opposite of December. This fear isn't backed up by any scientific reasoning; it just seems that these things have a way of balancing themselves out eventually.

Sub-Zero

We could have our first sub-zero temperatures of the season tonight, if the clouds clear fast enough. The low temperature is forecast to be near 5 degrees tonight, and it is usually at least 5 degrees colder than the forecast here in the valley. If the clouds hang on longer than expected, we'll stay above zero. Tomorrow should be a very cold day (much like Sunday), with a high around 15 degrees. By Saturday, the high temperature is expected to be in the 40s.

Missed Again...

Once again, we missed out on the biggest weather event of the week. Ten to sixteen inches of snow fell in southeastern Wisconsin today, and strong winds created blizzard conditions. The storm has already pulled away from the area but I imagine people in the hardest hit areas are still trying to dig out. No more big storms are on the horizon, just some very cold temperatures. There will be periodic chances for light snow or flurries during the next week or so, but nothing significant.

We always miss the good stuff. I hate boring weather.