The western United States is experiencing one of the coldest late winters in history, with too many cold records to list.
To illustrate, let me “warm up” by looking at the difference from the usual average maximum temperature across the region (below).
Unbelievable– in some parts of the area the highs have dropped MORE THAN 15F from normal.
Consider the average high temperature in Los Angeles for the same period.
You won’t believe it (below). The past two weeks have been the coldest on record, since the mid-1930s. LA residents are probably in their hot tubs.
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For San Francisco, the past two weeks have had the lowest maximum temperature since the late 1960s.
Portland? The last two weeks are tied with the second coldest in the entire record.
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Over the past few weeks, a large number of major low temperature records have been broken in the West. Not only a large number of daily records are broken, but also MONTHLY low temperature records. That is very, very unusual.
Below are the locations that recorded monthly temperatures over the past few weeks. What happened in California is extraordinary.
So why is there such a profoundly cold period?
This is due to the high amplitude, and unusually large-scale circulation in the atmosphere.
Below is a map showing the difference from normal altitude (such as pressure) by about 18,000 ft.
You will note a HUGE high-pressure anomaly over the northeast Pacific (red/orange) and a strong lower-elevation/pressure trough on the west coast (blue). This pattern is a very cold one for the West Coast, with northerly currents across the northeastern Pacific.
What is the predicted surface temperature anomaly for the next 7 days? You guessed it, colder than usual (see Central Europe synchronous system predictions below).
Now I can’t help but note something.
If this is a record warm anomaly of the same magnitude, the media will go crazy talking about climate change and global warming. David Horsey, cartoonist for The Seattle Times, is coming to town.
What will you hear from them about the cold spell and the climate? (see below)
