Question: Is this December simular to 1983?

[MGC]

Help me out here. As I recall, and my memory is starting to fade, but in the fall of 1983 temps were warm until mid December when the bottom fell out and the SE was plunged into the deep freeze. Seem we are in a simular pattern. In 1983, my grass was still green and the trees still had not dropped their leaves. Tonight will mark south Mississippi's first freeze and just like in 1983 the grass is still green and leaves are on several trees. Looking at the forecast models some of them are hinting at a major artic outbreak next week.....thoughts........MGC

[Brent]

I'm not sure about the before-outbreak pattern in 1983 but I think the cold will be comparable to that around Christmas. The record low here on Christmas Day is 3 degrees and it was set in 1983. Record for Christmas Eve is also 3 but was set in 1989.

[Bane]

It hit zero here in 1989, but we had about 15" of snow on the ground.

[LAwxrgal]

We were 7 in 89 with 5" of snow on the ground. They don't even sell snow tires this far south.

[aggiecutter]

This pattern, or the direction it appears to be heading, could be compared to 63, 83, or 2000. Then again, it might set its own precedent, or be remembered for what could of been.

[vbhoutex]

This pattern, or the direction it appears to be heading, could be compared to 63, 83, or 2000. Then again, it might set its own precedent, or be remembered for what could of been.

Or for what it will become! If this continues to amplify and we get some moisture to wring out of it the southern plains may see some records set in a few departments. I temper this with the thoughts that we all have that it is way too far out to be sure of any of this.

[dvdweatherwizard]

Help me out here. As I recall, and my memory is starting to fade, but in the fall of 1983 temps were warm until mid December when the bottom fell out and the SE was plunged into the deep freeze. Seem we are in a simular pattern. In 1983, my grass was still green and the trees still had not dropped their leaves. Tonight will mark south Mississippi's first freeze and just like in 1983 the grass is still green and leaves are on several trees. Looking at the forecast models some of them are hinting at a major artic outbreak next week.....thoughts........MGC

Well, I have generated several maps that will hopefully shed some light on November and December of 1983 vs the long term means of November and December vs November of 2004. The maps that I have generated are all of 1000 mb temperatures. I tried to hunt for surface temperatures, but this is the best I could come up with at the moment, although 1000 mb is close enough to the surface to get the idea I think. The first two maps are the long term mean of November and November of 1983 respectively. Then the next map is the November of 2004, and then the December long term mean, and then December of 1983.. When you view the maps, be sure to look at the corresponding scales on the bottom of each map. Unfortunately, the same shade of blue on one map does not quite correspond with the same shade of blue on another, but there are contour labels on there to help out too. This images were generated using the http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/cdc/data.ncep.r ... rived.html website, which is truly a great website for generating maps of different variables for different years. I could probably post the 500 mb monthly patterns and long term mean monthly patterns as well later on if anybody wishes, but right now, it's 1:30 am, and I must go to bed!