A History of Mild December Temperatures in New York
- Since 1970 the warmest reading in December has averaged 60°. Between 1970-1999 it was 58°; since 2000 it has been 64°.
- December 1998 and 2001 each had two days with 70-degree highs. And every day of the first week of December 1998 had highs of 60° or warmer (including the two 70-degree highs).
- In eleven years since 1970 the mildest reading in December has occurred after the first day of winter.
- Since 1970 six years have had mildest December readings of 55° or lower. The coolest maximum was 53° in 1989.
- In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2015, December's mildest reading occurred just before Christmas (12/23, 12/24, 12/23 and 12/24, respectively).
- December 2013 is just one of four Decembers since 1970 that had a warmer reading than November. The other three were in 2006, 1998 and 1983.
- Decembers with very mild readings don't preclude significant snowfalls. For example, 2013's 71-degree reading on 12/22 followed a wintry 10-day period between 12/8-17 which saw 8.6" of snow. In 1984 a 70-degree day on 12/29 came just two days after 4.8" of snow fell; in 1990 a snowfall of 7.2" came five days after a high of 66° on 12/23; and in 2008 a 4.5" snow event followed a high of 67° five days earlier on 12/15.
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