A Look Back at November 2000…

(Tuesday, November 25, 2008) – There are some striking similarities when you compare numbers from November 2000 to November 2008 in the Jackson Weather Record Book. I was prompted to do this when considering other signals (Southern, Arctic and North Atlantic Oscillation indicies). December 2000 is ranked as the coldest December on record here in Jackson.In November of 2000, we had a sustained two weeks of below average temperatures (averaging -12.8º) from the 10th through the 22nd. The mother lode didn’t arrive until the last day of the month. Departures from average ranged from -5º to -21º during that two week period. The month ended -4.1º. It took us into December 2000 with an -11.3º temperature deficit.

So far, this November the temperature departure is at -4.6º. Through the 24th we have been in a week and a half streach of below average temperatures. Departures from averages have been on the order of -3º to -19º.

The irony of weather is that we started off the Winter 2000-01 with the coldest December on record, but the winter itself (Dec, Jan & Feb) was the 7th warmest on record. Go figure!!