In short, it has been a cold winter
From the NWS:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/?n=pns_2010_02_01
HERE IS THE COLDEST DEC/JAN COMBINATION FOR HOUSTON:
HOUSTON
45.9 1976-77
46.3 1983-84
47.2 1977-78
48.4 2000-01
48.5 1978-79
49.3 1891-92
49.6 2009-10
49.6 1917-18
49.6 1898-99
With February 2010 looking like it will end up below average as well, it will be interesting to see where will stand in the top 10 coldest winters on record.
It sure has been a fun winter to live through so far, considering the mild atrocities we've seen the past decade. It definitely feels old school
Dec 09/Jan 10: Ties 7th coldest on record
Here, also, is a write up about the arctic outbreak that occured during the first half of January 2010:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/warn_archi ... 124508.txt
For reference, here is what the four main climate sites in the HGX CWA have seen this winter so far in regards to temperature departures:
IAH:
Dec 09
Avg Temp: 50.2
Temp Dep: -3.5
11th coldest December on record
Jan 10
Avg Temp: 49.0
Temp Dep: -2.8
Coldest high of 33 on the 8th was a low max record. It was also the coldest high since the Jan 97 ice storm
Coldest low of 20 on the 9th was the coldest low since Jan 96 and was only one degree away from the record
Note: Hooks and Sugar Land reached 16 degrees
December 2009 was lowest departure month since February of 2002. This was also the first time since November/December 2000 that we have seen departures of -2 or more in back to back months.
HOU:
Dec 09
Avg Temp: 51.1
Temp Dep: -5.0
6th coldest December on record
Jan 10
Avg Temp: 50.0
Temp Dep: -4.3
Coldest low of 21 degrees on the 9th was a record for the date and the lowest temperature observed since Dec 90
GLS:
Dec 09
Avg Temp: 52.9
Temp Dep: -5.2
Jan 10
Avg Temp: 50.4
Temp Dep: -5.4
The freeze observed on the 7th was the first freeze since the Xmas 04 Snowstorm. After that, four more mornings had temperatures fall below freezing. The coldest low of 27 was the coldest reading since Feb 96
CLL:
Dec 09
Avg Temp: 47.8
Temp Dep: -4.4
9th coldest December on record
Jan 10
Avg Temp: 48.0
Temp Dep: -2.2
Coldest low of 18 degrees on the 9th was a record for the date and the coldest low since Mar 02
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/warn_archi ... 124508.txt
For reference, here is what the four main climate sites in the HGX CWA have seen this winter so far in regards to temperature departures:
IAH:
Dec 09
Avg Temp: 50.2
Temp Dep: -3.5
11th coldest December on record
Jan 10
Avg Temp: 49.0
Temp Dep: -2.8
Coldest high of 33 on the 8th was a low max record. It was also the coldest high since the Jan 97 ice storm
Coldest low of 20 on the 9th was the coldest low since Jan 96 and was only one degree away from the record
Note: Hooks and Sugar Land reached 16 degrees
December 2009 was lowest departure month since February of 2002. This was also the first time since November/December 2000 that we have seen departures of -2 or more in back to back months.
HOU:
Dec 09
Avg Temp: 51.1
Temp Dep: -5.0
6th coldest December on record
Jan 10
Avg Temp: 50.0
Temp Dep: -4.3
Coldest low of 21 degrees on the 9th was a record for the date and the lowest temperature observed since Dec 90
GLS:
Dec 09
Avg Temp: 52.9
Temp Dep: -5.2
Jan 10
Avg Temp: 50.4
Temp Dep: -5.4
The freeze observed on the 7th was the first freeze since the Xmas 04 Snowstorm. After that, four more mornings had temperatures fall below freezing. The coldest low of 27 was the coldest reading since Feb 96
CLL:
Dec 09
Avg Temp: 47.8
Temp Dep: -4.4
9th coldest December on record
Jan 10
Avg Temp: 48.0
Temp Dep: -2.2
Coldest low of 18 degrees on the 9th was a record for the date and the coldest low since Mar 02