All The Winter Warmth Since The 1990's Still Can't Surpass January 1932

[bluewave]

Even with all the really warm winters since 1990, we still can't surpass the record warmth of January 1932.

While winter 2001-2002 was warmer on average than 1931-1932, the warmth of January 1932 still stands

on it's own even though we are in a warmer era now.Using today's climatology, the 43.2 January 1932 average

temperature in Central Park would register a +10.6 degree departure and even greater by older standards.

January 1932 featured a -PNA pattern with a very strong SE Ridge.

Monthly January and February temperature records for Central Park

January 1932 Central Park

[chazman]

Man...looking at that January 1977 (22.1) average brings back harsh high school memories of standing on the corner waiting for the Q44 bus to come.

Brutal cold that early winter.

[Momza]

Man...looking at that January 1977 (22.1) average brings back harsh high school memories of standing on the corner waiting for the Q44 bus to come.

Brutal cold that early winter.

Loved to visit Willets point in Queens under the Throgs Neck Bridge to admire the huge chunks of ice and the temptation to walk across the Bayside area Bay.

[LongBeachSurfFreak]

Loved to visit Willets point in Queens under the Throgs Neck Bridge to admire the huge chunks of ice and the temptation to walk across the Bayside area Bay.

Can you imagine feb 34 then at 19.9? I know people drove cars across the great south bay to fire island.

During colonial times NY harbor would freeze solid out to the Verizano.

[bluewave]

Can you imagine feb 34 then at 19.9? I know people drove cars across the great south bay to fire island.

During colonial times NY harbor would freeze solid out to the Verizano.

It was a really wild decade to see this extreme cold and snow just two years later.

[Isotherm]

It was a really wild decade to see this extreme cold and snow just two years later.

Pretty incredible. 18/28 days AOB freezing highs and only three days with 40+ maxima (all low 40s). We've seen some drastic swings in our area, from majority sub freezing days to this winter's lack of sub freezing nights.

[Isotherm]

I would love to see an H5 map for Feb 1934. I would imagine we had a massive +PNA/-EPO connecting across the top with neg AO, given the temp anomalies in the US.

[bluewave]

I would love to see an H5 map for Feb 1934. I would imagine we had a massive +PNA/-EPO connecting across the top with neg AO, given the temp anomalies in the US.

From the reanalysis, a very strong +PNA/-EPO special with east based Atlantic blocking.

[bluewave]

Pretty incredible. 18/28 days AOB freezing highs and only three days with 40+ maxima (all low 40s). We've seen some drastic swings in our area, from majority sub freezing days to this winter's lack of sub freezing nights.

The preceding November was very cold in the NE just as the November 31 was warm.

[SnoSki14]

So there definitely have been warm periods in the so called "pre-Global Warming days"

[bluewave]

Man...looking at that January 1977 (22.1) average brings back harsh high school memories of standing on the corner waiting for the Q44 bus to come.

Brutal cold that early winter.

Loved to visit Willets point in Queens under the Throgs Neck Bridge to admire the huge chunks of ice and the temptation to walk across the Bayside area Bay.

I can still remember that winter very well along with the colder winter patterns into the early 1980's.

[bluewave]

So there definitely have been warm periods in the so called "pre-Global Warming days"

Yeah, winter 31-32 was the warmest on record until 01-02 came along.

[NEXtreme]

So there definitely have been warm periods in the so called "pre-Global Warming days"

And most likely before man began recording records.

[uncle W]

Man...looking at that January 1977 (22.1) average brings back harsh high school memories of standing on the corner waiting for the Q44 bus to come.

Brutal cold that early winter.

I was 28 and working in down town Brooklyn...As cold as it was it lacked a huge snowstorm...January 1978 was much better because of one big snowfall...1976-77 had 45 days with a max 32 or lower...I believe that tied the record for the most for any winter...1977-78 had 42 without the extreme cold...2002-03 was the last winter to have 30 or more...

the most since 1930...

max days

45 1976-77

42 1977-78

39 1935-36

38 1933-34

32 1947-48

31 1993-94

31 2002-03

30 1980-81

30 1995-96

29 1983-84

29 1962-63

29 1939-40

[Isotherm]

I was 28 and working in down town Brooklyn...As cold as it was it lacked a huge snowstorm...January 1978 was much better because of one big snowfall...1976-77 had 45 days with a max 32 or lower...I believe that tied the record for the most for any winter...1977-78 had 42 without the extreme cold...2002-03 was the last winter to have 30 or more...

the most since 1930...

max days

45 1976-77

42 1977-78

39 1935-36

38 1933-34

32 1947-48

31 1993-94

31 2002-03

30 1980-81

30 1995-96

29 1983-84

29 1962-63

29 1939-40

Incredible. 45 days sub freezing is half the winter, very impressive.

Chris - can you post the charts for the 1976-77 winter like you did for 1934? That's a great site you found.

[Brian5671]

Yeah, winter 31-32 was the warmest on record until 01-02 came along.

That is some streak. I find it interesting that years 1 and 2 are warm

31-32

91-92

01-02

11-12

-

coincidence???

[Sundog]

So there definitely have been warm periods in the so called "pre-Global Warming days"

Has anyone ever asserted otherwise?

[LongBeachSurfFreak]

That is some streak. I find it interesting that years 1 and 2 are warm

31-32

91-92

01-02

11-12

-

coincidence???

2012 I guess we are all going to fry in a mega torch 12/21!

[Isotherm]

The AGW argument never denied that there have been periods just as warm if not warmer in the past; it has no real bearing on their theory.

[forkyfork]

The AGW argument never denied that there have been periods just as warm if not warmer in the past; it has no real bearing on their theory.

if i recall correctly, most of the warmth in the 30s was restricted to the US

[Alpha5]

Jan 13-15

Average high was 69.....

Wow

[Isotherm]

if i recall correctly, most of the warmth in the 30s was restricted to the US

You'd be correct in saying that. Here's the temp composite anomaly map for the northern hemisphere, DJF 1931-1932. Only the Eastern US very warm.

[Isotherm]

Here's the sfc air temp composite anomaly map for Feb 1934 to go along with Bluewave's post. This should kill any rumors that a big neg NAO is necessary for extreme cold in the Northeast. NAO appears to be positive with an AO that also may be positive. If you get a major AK block with cross polar flow connection from Siberia, you're golden.

Edit: Nao is negative but east based

[Guest Pamela]

if i recall correctly, most of the warmth in the 30s was restricted to the US

I would think that widespread global 2m temp records were pretty far and few between in the 1930's and that broad areas went unmonitored...

[Isotherm]

1993-94 cold winter for comparison. H5 for DJF - neg EPO, neg AO, and pos PNA. NAO was positive. Another scenario with extreme cold w/o NAO help

[Isotherm]

1976-77 DJF H5 pattern. Here's your go-to ideal regime for extreme cold -- as blocked up as you can possibly get in the nern latitudes. You're got the whole list checked off - neg EPO, pos PNA, neg AO, major neg NAO west based blocking.

[Isotherm]

DJF H5 for 1977-78. Darn near identical, just not as expansive with the neg AO.

[Isotherm]

One more, here's a look at the coldest January on record - 1918. Major negative NAO with west based blocking in the perfect spot, neg EPO blocking, etc. AO looks near neutral maybe.

[Allsnow]

1932 was such a sucide winter