December 2022 Summary

December 2022 Summary

Slightly warmer than normal (+0.5 °F/+0.3 °C) with near-normal precipitation (88% of normal precipitation). Max temps were slightly below normal, while min temps were above normal due to abundant cloud cover.
Generally quite stable and warm except for the very cloudy Christmas cold snap, which featured the lowest max temp since January 2010 and the lowest December max temp on record for the COOP station.
Although the cold snap's min temps were unimpressive considering the very low max temps, 38 °F/3 °C was still the lowest December temp since 2012.





Highest daily max temp: 87.3 °F (30.7 °C) on the 31st
Lowest daily max temp: 46.6 °F (8.1 °C) on the 25th
Highest daily mean temp: 74.8 °F (23.8 °C) on the 2nd
Lowest daily mean temp: 42.0 °F (5.6 °C) on the 25th
Highest daily min temp: 71.8 °F (22.1 °C) on the 2nd
Lowest daily min temp: 38.3 °F (3.5 °C) on the 24th and 25th

Highest diurnal range: 33.3 °F (18.5 °C) on the 23rd
Lowest diurnal range: 8.3 °F (4.6 °C) on the 25th

Highest precipitation rate (10-min mean): 0.73"/hr (18.5 mm/hr) on the 13th and 14th
Highest daily precipitaton: 1.02" (25.9 mm) on the 14th
Duration of measurable precipitation: 18.1 hours
Highest temp with measurable precipitation: 73.8 °F (23.2 °C) on the 15th
Mean temp of measurable precipitation: 65.0 °F (18.3 °C)
Lowest temp with measurable precipitation: 53.1 °F (11.7 °C) on the 27th

Highest relative humidity: 99% on most days
Highest daily mean relative humidity: 96% on the 13th
Lowest relative humidity: 50% on the 24th
Lowest daily mean relative humidity: 63% on the 24th and 25th

Highest dew point: 76.3 °F (24.6 °C) on the 31st
Highest daily mean dew point: 70.2 °F (21.2 °C) on the 8th
Lowest dew point: 25.2 °F (-3.8 °C) on the 25th
Lowest daily mean dew point: 30.3 °F (-0.9 °C) on the 25th

Mean barometric pressure: 30.12 inHg (1020 mbar)
Highest barometric pressure: 30.33 inHg (1027 mbar) on the 3rd
Lowest barometric pressure: 29.89 inHg (1012 mbar) on the 15th

Mean daily variability (average difference in mean temp between consecutive days): 3.3 °F (1.8 °C)
Highest difference in mean temp between consecutive days: 23.8 °F (13.2 °C) from December 23rd-24th

2022 Annual Summary

Much warmer than normal (+1.4 °F/+0.8 °C) with near-normal precipitation (91% of normal precipitation). Tied with 2019 for third warmest year on record after 2015 and 2020.

New records at Port Salerno 5W COOP station (1.3 mi/2.1 km SE) (since May 2002):

January: Record highest daily max temp (87 °F/31 °C). Previous record 86 °F/30 °C in 2016, 2017, and 2020.
June: Record lowest daily max temp (75 °F/24 °C). Previous record 76 °F/24 °C in 2005 and 2020.
September: Record lowest daily max temp (78 °F/26 °C). Previous record 79 °F/26 °C in 2013.
September: Record lowest daily min temp (63 °F/17 °C). Previous record 65 °F/18 °C in 2006.
September: Record lowest daily mean temp (71.0 °F/21.7 °C). Previous record 74.5 °F/23.6 °C in 2008.
September: Record highest daily precipitation (6.63"/168.4 mm). Previous record 6.41"/162.8 mm in 2004.
October: Record lowest daily max temp (64 °F/18 °C). Previous record 67 °F/19 °C in 2017.
December: Record lowest daily max temp (46 °F/8 °C). Previous record 53 °F/12 °C in 2010.

Annual:
Record lowest number of days with min temp < 55 °F/13 °C (36 days). Previous record 40 days in 2015.
Record lowest number of days with mean temp < 65 °F/18 °C (34 days). Previous record 37 days in 2017.

Observations are from 7 AM to 7 AM

PWS data:

Highest daily max temp: 99.5 °F (37.5 °C) on June 24th and August 18th
Lowest daily max temp: 46.6 °F (8.1 °C) on December 25th
Highest daily mean temp: 84.5 °F (29.2 °C) on August 17th
Lowest daily mean temp: 42.0 °F (5.6 °C) on December 25th
Highest daily min temp: 76.6 °F (24.8 °C) on August 21st
Lowest daily min temp: 35.1 °F (1.7 °C) on January 31st

Highest diurnal range: 33.8 °F (18.8 °C) on January 15th
Lowest diurnal range: 3.6 °F (2.0 °C) on September 27th

Highest precipitation rate (10-min mean): 5.17"/hr (131.1 mm/hr) on September 27th
Highest daily precipitation: 3.58" (90.9 mm) on September 28th

Highest relative humidity: 99% on most days
Highest daily mean relative humidity: 99% on June 3rd and September 27th
Lowest relative humidity: 18% on January 31st
Lowest daily mean relative humidity: 55% on January 29th

Highest dew point: 84.6 °F (29.2 °C) on July 13th
Highest daily mean dew point: 78.7 °F (25.9 °C) on August 25th
Lowest dew point: 20.3 °F (-6.5 °C) on January 31st
Lowest daily mean dew point: 30.3 °F (-0.9 °C) on December 25th

Highest barometric pressure: 30.41 inHg (1030 mbar) on February 15th
Lowest barometric pressure: 29.21 inHg (989 mbar) on November 10th (Hurricane Nicole)

Highest difference in mean temp between consecutive days: 23.8 °F (13.2 °C) from December 23rd-24th

Observations are from 12 AM to 12 AM



1991-2020 normals for Port Salerno 5W COOP station for reference:

Essendon December 2022 Summary:

Average max: 24.4°C (-1.2°C)
Average mean: 18.3°C (-1.0°C)
Average min: 12.2°C (-0.8°C)

Max high: 37.5°C (27th)
Max low: 26.0°C (28th)
Min high: 16.3°C (14th)
Min low: 6.2°C (10th)

Precipitation: 59.0mm (117.8% of avg. precip)
Precip days: 11
Precip days (>1mm): 7

Sun hours: 272.2 hrs (102.2% of avg sun hours)

Highest wind gust: 70km/h from the N (11th)

A month which was below avg (note: I am using 2003-2022 PoR as Essendon has a bunch of missing data), mainly due to a cold first half and a warmer second half of the month. Rainfall and sunshine were slightly above average. The second warmest Dec night on record occurred on the 28th. This also marks the warmest night since the 29th of January, 2018 (27.5°C).

Yearly summary:

Average max: 20.1°C (-0.5°C)
Average mean: 15.4°C (-0.1°C)
Average min: 10.5°C (+0.2°C)

Max high: 38.0°C (1st January)
Max low: 26.0°C (28th December)
Min high: 10.5°C (30th May, 12th July)
Min low: -1.5°C (21st July)

Precipitation: 679.0mm (128.4% of avg. precip)
Precip days: 157

Sun hours: 2167.7 hrs (91.4% of avg sun hours)

This year was wet and cloudy. The temperatures suggest that it remained average, although this wasn't the case for most of the year, with most months going below average. January was the warmest on record, and then it went downhill from there. July, September and November were particularly below average.

December 2022 Summary

Avg max: 24.5c (-0.3c)
Avg mean: 18.0c (-0.5c)
Avg min: 11.5c (-0.7c)

Max high: 36.5c (27th)
Max low: 27.0c (28th)
Min high: 16.3c (8th)
Min low: 4.7 (10th)

Precipitation: 61.8mm (77.1% of avg. precip)

Precip days: 11 (-0.3)
Precip days (>1mm): 9

Sun hours: 272.2 hrs 

Overall a slightly cooler, drier and sunnier month compared to average. It was a tale of two halves, with the first half being very cool and wet and the second half being warmer and drier. At first, it felt like we would continue the cool, wet, cloudy trend of spring 2022, but then the switch got flipped and we had some proper summer weather.



Annual Summary

Avg max: 20.2c (average)
Avg mean: 15.1c (+0.1c)
Avg min: 10.0 (+0.2c)

Precipitation: 998.4mm (123.9% of average)
Precip days: 186 (+22.2)

Sun hours: 2163.7

The year was cloudy and wet, while being close to average temp wise. There was significant variation across the months however, with January being record warm and the spring months being quite cool. Our highest temp of 37.1c was the lowest highest temp since 2002. 

Synopsis: After a mild start to Dickcember (nothing out of the ordinary though), there was an interesting cold snap for the Christmas weekend—with the first ice day since Jan 2019, and coldest Dec low since 2010; even though the annual coldest minimum isn't anything impressive (it's still above the annual mean minimum of 16°F). All months—other than Oct—were better in 2022 than 2021. Keep in mind that decimal-point monthly records for KEWN have been calculated from warmest/coolest five-minute running averages from one-minute observations, and then rounded to the nearest decimal point of °C to have odd numbers.











Average 1 AM temperature: 43.5°F (6.4°C)
Average 7 AM temperature: 42.0°F (5.6°C)
Average 1 PM temperature: 52.7°F (11.5°C)
Average 7 PM temperature: 48.5°F (9.2°C)

Average 1 AM dewpoint: 36.5°F (2.5°C)
Average 7 AM dewpoint: 36.8°F (2.7°C)
Average 1 PM dewpoint: 39.1°F (3.9°C)
Average 7 PM dewpoint: 39.4°F (4.1°C)

Max. dewpoint: 68.7°F (20.4°C) on the 31st
Min. dewpoint: -1.8°F (-18.8°C) on the 24th

Difference between true daily mean vs. max/min / 2: -0.1°F (-0.1°C)
Largest diurnal range: 32.9°F (18.3°C) on the 23rd
Smallest diurnal range: 6.3°F (3.5°C) on the 20th
Mean time of daily high and mean time of daily high after solar noon (not including highs which occurred at night): 2:16 PM; +2 hrs and 12 mins

No. precipitation days (>=0.01"): 6
No. precipitation days (>=0.04"): 5
No. precipitation days (>=0.1"): 3
No. precipitation days (>=0.4"): 3
Max. rainfall rate (instantaneous): 3.74"/hr (95.0 mm/hr) on the 15th, 11:28 AM
Max. rainfall rate (10-min. avg.): 1.08"/hr (27.4 mm/hr) for the 15th, 11:25-11:35 AM
Max. temperature of measurable precipitation: 66.8°F (19.3°C) on the 3rd, 4:00 PM
Min. temperature of measurable precipitation: 49.8°F (9.9°C) on the 30th, 11:25 PM

Highest barometric pressure: 30.59 in (1035.9 mb) on the 2nd
Lowest barometric pressure: 29.55 in (1000.7 mb) on the 23rd
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2022 Annual Summary (POR for PWS since April 7)

Highest 1 AM* temperature: 80.8°F (27.1°C) on July 30
Highest 7 AM* temperature: 84.1°F (28.9°C) on July 29
Highest 1 PM* temperature: 95.3°F (35.2°C) on July 29
Highest 7 PM* temperature: 88.1°F (31.2°C) on June 17

Lowest 1 AM* temperature: 22.9°F (-5.1°C) on December 25
Lowest 7 AM* temperature: 18.1°F (-7.7°C) on December 24
Lowest 1 PM* temperature: 26.3°F (-3.2°C) on December 24
Lowest 7 PM* temperature: 24.7°F (-4.1°C) on December 24

*Local standard time, that is 8 AM/8 PM DST

Max. 5-minute dewpoint*: 81.1°F (27.3°C) on July 21, 22 and 28
Max. one-day mean dewpoint: 77.7°F (25.3°C) on July 29
Min. one-day mean dewpoint: 3.9°F (-15.6°C) on December 24
Min. 5-minute dewpoint: -1.8°F (-18.8°C) on December 24

*Using 5-minute instantaneous values for dewpoints as they're adjusted for moisture biases which VP2 and some other PWS'es exhibit, and because for whatever reason, max/min dewpoints on WeatherLink contradict what my PWS console reads (sometimes up to 1°F higher). Thus, the actual highest/lowest dewpoints may be slightly higher/lower than this. For more information, see this.

Highest mean relative humidity: 94.9% on September 11 & December 31
Lowest mean relative humidity: 42.5% on December 24

Highest heat index: 115°F (46°C) on July 28, 4:25 PM (93.3°F with an 81.1°F dewpoint)

Mean difference between true daily mean vs. max/min / 2: -0.5°F (-0.3°C)
Largest diurnal range: 33.5°F (18.6°C) on April 11
Smallest diurnal range: 5.8°F (3.2°C) on July 10

Max. rainfall rate (instantaneous): 8.47"/hr (215.1 mm/hr) on June 9, 4:46 PM
Max. rainfall rate (10-min. avg.): 4.02"/hr (102.1 mm/hr) for July 9, 9:15-9:25 PM
Max. temperature of measurable precipitation: 86.9°F (30.5°C) on July 3, 7:35 PM
Min. temperature of measurable precipitation: 49.8°F (9.9°C) on December 30, 11:25 PM

Highest barometric pressure: 30.59 in (1035.9 mb) on December 2
Lowest barometric pressure: 29.51 in (999.3 mb) on April 7
_______________________________________________________________________

New Records at New Bern ASOS (KEWN):

Driest February on record. Previous record was 1.28" in 1977
_______________________________________________________________________

Other Extremes/Totals at New Bern ASOS (KEWN):

Highest heat index: 114°F (46°C) on July 28, 5:10 PM (93°F with an 81°F dewpoint)
Lowest windchill: 2°F (-17°C) on December 24, 8:15 AM (18°F with 17 mph sustained winds)

Highest wind gust: 58 mph (93 kph) on March 12, 9:24 AM

Highest barometric pressure: 30.70 in (1039.6 mb) on February 15
Lowest barometric pressure: 29.33 in (993.2 mb) on March 12

No. of days with

Thunder: 52
Fog: 66 (likely far fewer by me due to less radiational cooling!)
Freezing fog: 4
Snow: 3
Smoke: 0
________________________________________________________________________

Monthly departures at New Bern ASOS (relative to 1991-2020 normals):

Average high: -0.6°F (-0.3°C)
Mean: -0.7°F (-0.4°C)
Average low: -0.8°F (-0.4°C)
Precipitation: -0.56" (-14.2 mm; 85% of normal)
________________________________________________________________________

Annual departures at New Bern ASOS (relative to 1991-2020 normals):

Average high: +1.0°F (+0.6°C)
Mean: +1.0°F (+0.6°C)
Average low: +1.0°F (+0.6°C)
Precipitation: -3.25" (-82.5 mm; 94% of normal)

December ended up 3.7F warmer than normal with 1.92" more precip than normal. First half of the month was much above normal. Strong cold snap around Christmas was still outweighed by anomalous warmth earlier in the month and temps warmed back up the final days of the month. Heavy rainfall put an end to drought conditions. Severe storms on the night of the 13th with an EF-1 tornado south of Alexandria. 

2022 was the 8th warmest year on record (+1.7 warmer than normal and 5.32 drier than normal). Biggest warm anomalies occurred in May, June, and July. I got a good bit more rainfall than the airport (my yearly total was 58.04" - I had almost twice as much rainfall compared to airport in August)

December 2022 Summary:

Average max: -9.8C (-1.6C)
Average mean: -13.8C (-1.1C)
Average min: -17.7C (-0.4C)
Average dewpoint: -15.9C (-0.8C)

Max high: 0.6C (Dec 14) (-0.2C)
Max low: -1.3C (Dec 13)
Min high: -22.3C (Dec 21)
Min low: -33.4C (Dec 7) (-2.4C)

Precipitation: 19.5 mm (-1.6 mm)
Snow: 26.8 cm (-1.7 cm) (snowfall varied across the area, averaging higher than this amount)
Snow Days: 23 days (+3 days)
Precipitation Days (≥ 0.2 mm): 10 days (-1 day)



CoCoRaHS SnowObs:



Airport Yearly Summary:

2022 was slightly below average in temperatures, and the wettest year on record.

Average max: 7.2C (-1.4C)
Average mean: 1.8C (-1.1C)
Average min: -3.6C (-0.8C)
Average dewpoint: -2.3C (-0.7C)

Max high: 37.0C (June 19) (+2.9C)
Max low: 22.0C (June 19)
Min high: -25.8C (Jan 1)
Min low: -35.6C (Jan 1) (+0.3C)

Precipitation: 792 mm (+276.3 mm)
Rainfall: 660 mm (+244.5 mm)
Snow: 203 cm (+75.4 cm)
Precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm): 119 days (-0.3 days)
Rain days: 108 days
Snow days: 124 days
Thunderstorm days: 27 days (+3 days)

Highest wind gust: 82 km/h (May 13)
Average wind speed: 19 km/h (+1 km/h)


New all-time records:

Highest dewpoint: 27.4C (July 17; POR since 1953)
Wettest year: 792 mm (POR since 1872)
Rainiest year: 660 mm (POR since 1872)

New daily records (POR since 1872):

Lowest April 25 daily max: -3.8C
Lowest April 17 daily min: -13.7C
Highest June 19 daily max: 37.0C
Highest June 19 daily min: 22.0C
Highest Dec 11 daily min: -1.9C
Highest Jan 17 snowfall: 10.0 cm
Highest Feb 10 snowfall: 8.2 cm
Highest Feb 19 snowfall: 12 cm
Highest April 13 snowfall: 25.0 cm
Highest April 23 rainfall: 32.4 mm
Highest May 30 rainfall: 35.2 mm
Highest June 24 rainfall: 55.7 mm
Highest August 15 rainfall: 58.8 mm
Highest Sept 16 rainfall: 29.1 mm
Highest Oct 24 rainfall: 33.5 mm






Downtown Yearly Summary:

Max low: 22.3C (June 19)
Min high: -25.5C (Jan 1)
Highest daily rainfall: 90.1 mm (Aug 15)

Ice days occur more often then that. There were multiple ice days in 2014 and 2021 (none between those years). During the 1980's 5 out of 10 years had ice days. The longest stretch I see with no ice days on NOWData was from 1998 - 2009. 

Final: