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Consecutive hours below freezing?


snowwors2

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PHL's longest stretches of freezing or below:

 

Rank 1; Number of days 15; Dates 1979-02-06 to 1979-02-19

Rank 1; Number of days 15; Dates 1961-01-19 to 1961-02-02

Rank 3; Number of days 13; Dates 1893-01-10 to 1893-01-22

Rank 4; Number of days 12; Dates 1936-01-23 to 1936-02-03

Rank 4; Number of days 12; Dates 1895-02-03 to 1895-02-14

Rank 6; Number of days 11; Dates 1981-01-08 to 1981-01-18  

Rank 6; Number of days 11; Dates 1935-12-21 to 1935-12-31

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1989-12-16 to 1989-12-25 

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1982-01-10 to 1982-01-19 

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1958-12-07 to 1958-12-16

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1948-01-23 to 1948-02-01

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1945-12-15 to 1945-12-24

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1899-02-05 to 1899-02-14

Rank 14; Number of days 9; Dates 2004-01-23 to 2004-01-31

Rank 14; Number of days 9; Dates 1978-01-31 to 1978-02-08

Rank 14; Number of days 9; Dates 1970-01-07 to 1970-01-15

Rank 14; Number of days 9; Dates 1966-01-25 to 1966-02-02

Rank 14; Number of days 9; Dates 1892-12-22 to 1892-12-30

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1996-01-04 to 1996-01-11

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1984-01-15 to 1984-01-22

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1980-01-30 to 1980-02-06

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1977-01-16 to 1977-01-23

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1965-01-29 to 1965-02-05

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1940-01-16 to 1940-01-23

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1917-12-29 to 1918-01-05

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1905-01-29 to 1905-02-05

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1899-12-26 to 1900-01-02

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1885-02-17 to 1885-02-24

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I found this interesting.  If you believe accuweather's forecast, it will be 18 degrees standing on the beach of the Arctic Ocean in Barrow Alaska Tuesday  It will be one degree cooler in Philadelphia.  It will be 40 degrees in Anchorage.  I wonder how often Anchorage is 20+ degrees warmer than Philly.  Even better, it will be 2 degrees warmer Tuesday night in Anchorage than it will be in Houston, Texas.

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PHL's longest stretches of freezing or below:

 

Rank 1; Number of days 15; Dates 1979-02-06 to 1979-02-19

Rank 1; Number of days 15; Dates 1961-01-19 to 1961-02-02

Rank 3; Number of days 13; Dates 1893-01-10 to 1893-01-22

Rank 4; Number of days 12; Dates 1936-01-23 to 1936-02-03

Rank 4; Number of days 12; Dates 1895-02-03 to 1895-02-14

Rank 6; Number of days 11; Dates 1981-01-08 to 1981-01-18  

Rank 6; Number of days 11; Dates 1935-12-21 to 1935-12-31

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1989-12-16 to 1989-12-25 

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1982-01-10 to 1982-01-19 

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1958-12-07 to 1958-12-16

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1948-01-23 to 1948-02-01

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1945-12-15 to 1945-12-24

Rank 8; Number of days 10; Dates 1899-02-05 to 1899-02-14

Rank 14; Number of days 9; Dates 2004-01-23 to 2004-01-31

Rank 14; Number of days 9; Dates 1978-01-31 to 1978-02-08

Rank 14; Number of days 9; Dates 1970-01-07 to 1970-01-15

Rank 14; Number of days 9; Dates 1966-01-25 to 1966-02-02

Rank 14; Number of days 9; Dates 1892-12-22 to 1892-12-30

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1996-01-04 to 1996-01-11

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1984-01-15 to 1984-01-22

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1980-01-30 to 1980-02-06

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1977-01-16 to 1977-01-23

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1965-01-29 to 1965-02-05

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1940-01-16 to 1940-01-23

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1917-12-29 to 1918-01-05

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1905-01-29 to 1905-02-05

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1899-12-26 to 1900-01-02

Rank 19; Number of days 8; Dates 1885-02-17 to 1885-02-24

great stats...can you post the most and least amount of seasonal days 32 or lower?......

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Rank Number Season Rank Number Season

1 1 1997-1998 1 45 1977-1978

2 3 2001-2002 2 44 1884-1885

3 4 2011-2012 3 39 1903-1904

3 4 1952-1953 4 36 1976-1977

3 4 1931-1932 4 36 1917-1918

3 4 1918-1919 4 36 1904-1905

7 6 2005-2006 4 36 1874-1875

7 6 1990-1991 8 35 1935-1936

7 6 1974-1975 8 35 1892-1893

7 6 1948-1949 8 35 1876-1877

7 6 1936-1937 11 34 1880-1881

12 7 1930-1931 12 33 1919-1920

12 7 1908-1909 13 32 1995-1996

12 7 1881-1882 14 31 1901-1902

12 7 1879-1880 15 30 1980-1981

12 7 1877-1878 15 30 1960-1961

17 8 2007-2008 17 29 1962-1963

17 8 1991-1992 17 29 1933-1934

17 8 1986-1987 19 28 1911-1912

17 8 1982-1983 19 28 1906-1907

17 8 1951-1952 19 28 1894-1895

17 8 1949-1950 22 27 1983-1984

17 8 1928-1929 23 26 2002-2003

17 8 1890-1891 23 26 1979-1980

17 8 1889-1890 23 26 1978-1979

26 9 2012-2013 26 25 1944-1945

26 9 1920-1921 26 25 1939-1940

28 10 1992-1993 26 25 1886-1887

28 10 1956-1957 26 25 1887-1888

28 10 1940-1941 30 24 1969-1970

28 10 1932-1933 30 24 1958-1959

28 10 1923-1924 30 24 1891-1892

28 10 1912-1913 33 23 1961-1962

34 11 1996-1997 33 23 1900-1901

34 11 1994-1995 35 22 2003-2004

34 11 1971-1972 35 22 1947-1948

34 11 1950-1951 35 22 1915-1916

34 11 1938-1939 38 21 1970-1971

39 12 1972-1973 38 21 1968-1969

39 12 1959-1960 38 21 1965-1966

39 12 1954-1955 38 21 1898-1899

39 12 1937-1938 38 21 1878-1879

39 12 1914-1915 43 20 1981-1982

39 12 1907-1908 43 20 1966-1967

39 12 1897-1898 43 20 1964-1965

39 12 1893-1894 43 20 1957-1958

47 13 1946-1947 43 20 1945-1946

47 13 1941-1942 43 20 1942-1943

47 13 1924-1925 43 20 1922-1923

47 13 1888-1889 43 20 1916-1917

51 14 2009-2010 43 20 1910-1911

51 14 2000-2001 43 20 1902-1903

51 14 1988-1989 43 20 1899-1900

51 14 1953-1954 54 19 2010-2011

51 14 1927-1928 54 19 1993-1994

51 14 1905-1906 54 19 1963-1964

57 15 1998-1999 54 19 1895-1896

57 15 1975-1976 54 19 1883-1884

57 15 1967-1968 59 18 2008-2009

57 15 1955-1956 59 18 1987-1988

57 15 1943-1944 59 18 1934-1935

57 15 1929-1930 59 18 1896-1897

57 15 1926-1927 59 18 1885-1886

57 15 1925-1926 64 17 2006-2007

57 15 1921-1922 64 17 2004-2005

57 15 1875-1876 64 17 1989-1990

67 16 1999-2000 64 17 1985-1986

67 16 1973-1974 64 17 1984-1985

67 16 1913-1914 64 17 1909-1910

67 16 1882-1883 70 16 1999-2000

71 17 2006-2007 70 16 1973-1974

71 17 2004-2005 70 16 1913-1914

71 17 1989-1990 70 16 1882-1883

71 17 1985-1986 74 15 1998-1999

71 17 1984-1985 74 15 1975-1976

71 17 1909-1910 74 15 1967-1968

77 18 2008-2009 74 15 1955-1956

77 18 1987-1988 74 15 1943-1944

77 18 1934-1935 74 15 1929-1930

77 18 1896-1897 74 15 1926-1927

77 18 1885-1886 74 15 1925-1926

82 19 2010-2011 74 15 1921-1922

82 19 1993-1994 74 15 1875-1876

82 19 1963-1964 84 14 2009-2010

82 19 1895-1896 84 14 2000-2001

82 19 1883-1884 84 14 1988-1989

87 20 1981-1982 84 14 1953-1954

87 20 1966-1967 84 14 1927-1928

87 20 1964-1965 84 14 1905-1906

87 20 1957-1958 90 13 1946-1947

87 20 1945-1946 90 13 1941-1942

87 20 1942-1943 90 13 1924-1925

87 20 1922-1923 90 13 1888-1889

87 20 1916-1917 94 12 1972-1973

87 20 1910-1911 94 12 1959-1960

87 20 1902-1903 94 12 1954-1955

87 20 1899-1900 94 12 1937-1938

98 21 1970-1971 94 12 1914-1915

98 21 1968-1969 94 12 1907-1908

98 21 1965-1966 94 12 1897-1898

98 21 1898-1899 94 12 1893-1894

98 21 1878-1879 102 11 1996-1997

103 22 2003-2004 102 11 1994-1995

103 22 1947-1948 102 11 1971-1972

103 22 1915-1916 102 11 1950-1951

106 23 1961-1962 102 11 1938-1939

106 23 1900-1901 107 10 1992-1993

108 24 1969-1970 107 10 1956-1957

108 24 1958-1959 107 10 1940-1941

108 24 1891-1892 107 10 1932-1933

111 25 1944-1945 107 10 1923-1924

111 25 1939-1940 107 10 1912-1913

111 25 1886-1887 113 9 2012-2013

111 25 1887-1888 113 9 1920-1921

115 26 2002-2003 115 8 2007-2008

115 26 1979-1980 115 8 1991-1992

115 26 1978-1979 115 8 1986-1987

118 27 1983-1984 115 8 1982-1983

119 28 1911-1912 115 8 1951-1952

119 28 1906-1907 115 8 1949-1950

119 28 1894-1895 115 8 1928-1929

122 29 1962-1963 115 8 1890-1891

122 29 1933-1934 115 8 1889-1890

124 30 1980-1981 124 7 1930-1931

124 30 1960-1961 124 7 1908-1909

126 31 1901-1902 124 7 1881-1882

127 32 1995-1996 124 7 1879-1880

128 33 1919-1920 124 7 1877-1878

129 34 1880-1881 129 6 2005-2006

130 35 1935-1936 129 6 1990-1991

130 35 1892-1893 129 6 1974-1975

130 35 1876-1877 129 6 1948-1949

133 36 1976-1977 129 6 1936-1937

133 36 1917-1918 134 4 2011-2012

133 36 1904-1905 134 4 1952-1953

133 36 1874-1875 134 4 1931-1932

137 39 1903-1904 134 4 1918-1919

138 44 1884-1885 138 3 2001-2002

139 45 1977-1978 139 1 1997-1998

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I want to be clear that I am NOT making an argument for or against climate change, human-induced or otherwise.  While I, like the rest of you, have strong opinions on the subject, those debates are for the climate change forum, not here. 

 

Having said that, it is interesting to note that when it comes to a measure of the severity of seasonal cold (i.e. number of days in a winter season that stayed below freezing) and a measure of the severity of shorter term cold snaps (number of consecutive days below freezing), the last 25 years are woefully underrepresented.  Out of the top 50 seasons for number of days that stayed below freezing, only three of them (95-96, 02-03, 03-04) came in the past 25 years.  Out of the 28 longest stretches of below freezing temperatures only 3 came in the past 25 years (and December 1989 just slipped in under the wire at that).  Even if we assume this winter will be represented in both categories, that is still a small number.   

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I want to be clear that I am NOT making an argument for or against climate change, human-induced or otherwise.  While I, like the rest of you, have strong opinions on the subject, those debates are for the climate change forum, not here. 

 

Having said that, it is interesting to note that when it comes to a measure of the severity of seasonal cold (i.e. number of days in a winter season that stayed below freezing) and a measure of the severity of shorter term cold snaps (number of consecutive days below freezing), the last 25 years are woefully underrepresented.  Out of the top 50 seasons for number of days that stayed below freezing, only three of them (95-96, 02-03, 03-04) came in the past 25 years.  Out of the 28 longest stretches of below freezing temperatures only 3 came in the past 25 years (and December 1989 just slipped in under the wire at that).  Even if we assume this winter will be represented in both categories, that is still a small number.   

Drove from the airport to western Montgomery county last night around 10 pm.  Never ceases to amaze me - 30 degrees at PHL, 21 degrees at home....  always ~10 degrees cooler when its clear / not cloudy. Surely, data shown is actual measurements and not adjusted for heat island effect.  Pre- concrete and asphalt,  I'm sure that when it was  super cold, under a dome of high pressure, the temp differential would not be as consistently large  across just 30 miles distance.  Measurements from PHL over 150 years must be impacted.

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Drove from the airport to western Montgomery county last night around 10 pm.  Never ceases to amaze me - 30 degrees at PHL, 21 degrees at home....  always ~10 degrees cooler when its clear / not cloudy. Surely, data shown is actual measurements and not adjusted for heat island effect.  Pre- concrete and asphalt,  I'm sure that when it was  super cold, under a dome of high pressure, the temp differential would not be as consistently large  across just 30 miles distance.  Measurements from PHL over 150 years must be impacted.

 

I agree to an extent, but a couple of points should be made.  Official Philadelphia temperature records have been taken at PHL since (I think) 1940.  Before that, official records were taken a various locations in Center City.  I would submit that PHL's location (essentially at sea level on the banks of a large tidal river that rarely freezes) rather than the concrete and tarmac there have a greater impact on temperatures.  Yes, there is undoubtedly more concrete and tarmac at PHL today than there was in 1940 and this certainly could explain some things... for example, this could be a partial explanation for the dearth of below 0 F temperatures at PHL in recent decades since the "heat island" effect is typically more pronounced at night and that could be just enough on the coldest nights to keep those temperatures above 0 F.  However, the "below freezing" records we are discussing here are mostly about daytime high temperatures (because 99% of the time, the high temperature occurs during the afternoon) and the heat island effect is less pronounced during the day.  It also doesn't explain why so many of the "below freezing" records above pre-date 1940 when temperatures were taken in Center City which, even 140 years ago (when official records commenced at Philadelphia), was already a concrete and masonry jungle subject to the heat island effect.  

 

Again, I am not trying to make some larger point here, political or otherwise.  I was just pointing out what we already know, that the data above is just another measure of how wintertime temperatures in Philadelphia have been generally warmer in recent years.  Now, if one wants to debate the reasons for that... or whether the temperatures at a single location on this entire rather large planet are in any way meaningful to prove or disprove anything, well, those are topics for the climate change forum.     

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I agree to an extent, but a couple of points should be made.  Official Philadelphia temperature records have been taken at PHL since (I think) 1940.  Before that, official records were taken a various locations in Center City.  I would submit that PHL's location (essentially at sea level on the banks of a large tidal river that rarely freezes) rather than the concrete and tarmac there have a greater impact on temperatures.

 

FYI, the elevation difference between PHL and the old Post Office in Center City (where the office was for many years) is less than 30 feet.  PHL is 8 feet while the post office is about 36 feet.

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Rank	Number	Season			Rank	Number	Season1	1	1997-1998		1	45	1977-1978									2	3	2001-2002		2	44	1884-1885									3	4	2011-2012		3	39	1903-1904									3	4	1952-1953		4	36	1976-1977									3	4	1931-1932		4	36	1917-1918									3	4	1918-1919		4	36	1904-1905									7	6	2005-2006		4	36	1874-1875									7	6	1990-1991		8	35	1935-1936									7	6	1974-1975		8	35	1892-1893									7	6	1948-1949		8	35	1876-1877									7	6	1936-1937		11	34	1880-1881									12	7	1930-1931		12	33	1919-1920									12	7	1908-1909		13	32	1995-1996									12	7	1881-1882		14	31	1901-1902									12	7	1879-1880		15	30	1980-1981									12	7	1877-1878		15	30	1960-1961									17	8	2007-2008		17	29	1962-1963									17	8	1991-1992		17	29	1933-1934									17	8	1986-1987		19	28	1911-1912									17	8	1982-1983		19	28	1906-1907									17	8	1951-1952		19	28	1894-1895									17	8	1949-1950		22	27	1983-1984									17	8	1928-1929		23	26	2002-2003									17	8	1890-1891		23	26	1979-1980									17	8	1889-1890		23	26	1978-1979									26	9	2012-2013		26	25	1944-1945									26	9	1920-1921		26	25	1939-1940									28	10	1992-1993		26	25	1886-1887									28	10	1956-1957		26	25	1887-1888									28	10	1940-1941		30	24	1969-1970									28	10	1932-1933		30	24	1958-1959									28	10	1923-1924		30	24	1891-1892									28	10	1912-1913		33	23	1961-1962									34	11	1996-1997		33	23	1900-1901									34	11	1994-1995		35	22	2003-2004									34	11	1971-1972		35	22	1947-1948									34	11	1950-1951		35	22	1915-1916									34	11	1938-1939		38	21	1970-1971									39	12	1972-1973		38	21	1968-1969									39	12	1959-1960		38	21	1965-1966									39	12	1954-1955		38	21	1898-1899									39	12	1937-1938		38	21	1878-1879									39	12	1914-1915		43	20	1981-1982									39	12	1907-1908		43	20	1966-1967									39	12	1897-1898		43	20	1964-1965									39	12	1893-1894		43	20	1957-1958									47	13	1946-1947		43	20	1945-1946									47	13	1941-1942		43	20	1942-1943									47	13	1924-1925		43	20	1922-1923									47	13	1888-1889		43	20	1916-1917									51	14	2009-2010		43	20	1910-1911									51	14	2000-2001		43	20	1902-1903									51	14	1988-1989		43	20	1899-1900									51	14	1953-1954		54	19	2010-2011									51	14	1927-1928		54	19	1993-1994									51	14	1905-1906		54	19	1963-1964									57	15	1998-1999		54	19	1895-1896									57	15	1975-1976		54	19	1883-1884									57	15	1967-1968		59	18	2008-2009									57	15	1955-1956		59	18	1987-1988									57	15	1943-1944		59	18	1934-1935									57	15	1929-1930		59	18	1896-1897									57	15	1926-1927		59	18	1885-1886									57	15	1925-1926		64	17	2006-2007									57	15	1921-1922		64	17	2004-2005									57	15	1875-1876		64	17	1989-1990									67	16	1999-2000		64	17	1985-1986									67	16	1973-1974		64	17	1984-1985									67	16	1913-1914		64	17	1909-1910									67	16	1882-1883		70	16	1999-2000									71	17	2006-2007		70	16	1973-1974									71	17	2004-2005		70	16	1913-1914									71	17	1989-1990		70	16	1882-1883									71	17	1985-1986		74	15	1998-1999									71	17	1984-1985		74	15	1975-1976									71	17	1909-1910		74	15	1967-1968									77	18	2008-2009		74	15	1955-1956									77	18	1987-1988		74	15	1943-1944									77	18	1934-1935		74	15	1929-1930									77	18	1896-1897		74	15	1926-1927									77	18	1885-1886		74	15	1925-1926									82	19	2010-2011		74	15	1921-1922									82	19	1993-1994		74	15	1875-1876									82	19	1963-1964		84	14	2009-2010									82	19	1895-1896		84	14	2000-2001									82	19	1883-1884		84	14	1988-1989									87	20	1981-1982		84	14	1953-1954									87	20	1966-1967		84	14	1927-1928									87	20	1964-1965		84	14	1905-1906									87	20	1957-1958		90	13	1946-1947									87	20	1945-1946		90	13	1941-1942									87	20	1942-1943		90	13	1924-1925									87	20	1922-1923		90	13	1888-1889									87	20	1916-1917		94	12	1972-1973									87	20	1910-1911		94	12	1959-1960									87	20	1902-1903		94	12	1954-1955									87	20	1899-1900		94	12	1937-1938									98	21	1970-1971		94	12	1914-1915									98	21	1968-1969		94	12	1907-1908									98	21	1965-1966		94	12	1897-1898									98	21	1898-1899		94	12	1893-1894									98	21	1878-1879		102	11	1996-1997									103	22	2003-2004		102	11	1994-1995									103	22	1947-1948		102	11	1971-1972									103	22	1915-1916		102	11	1950-1951									106	23	1961-1962		102	11	1938-1939									106	23	1900-1901		107	10	1992-1993									108	24	1969-1970		107	10	1956-1957									108	24	1958-1959		107	10	1940-1941									108	24	1891-1892		107	10	1932-1933									111	25	1944-1945		107	10	1923-1924									111	25	1939-1940		107	10	1912-1913									111	25	1886-1887		113	9	2012-2013									111	25	1887-1888		113	9	1920-1921									115	26	2002-2003		115	8	2007-2008									115	26	1979-1980		115	8	1991-1992									115	26	1978-1979		115	8	1986-1987									118	27	1983-1984		115	8	1982-1983									119	28	1911-1912		115	8	1951-1952									119	28	1906-1907		115	8	1949-1950									119	28	1894-1895		115	8	1928-1929									122	29	1962-1963		115	8	1890-1891									122	29	1933-1934		115	8	1889-1890									124	30	1980-1981		124	7	1930-1931									124	30	1960-1961		124	7	1908-1909									126	31	1901-1902		124	7	1881-1882									127	32	1995-1996		124	7	1879-1880									128	33	1919-1920		124	7	1877-1878									129	34	1880-1881		129	6	2005-2006									130	35	1935-1936		129	6	1990-1991									130	35	1892-1893		129	6	1974-1975									130	35	1876-1877		129	6	1948-1949									133	36	1976-1977		129	6	1936-1937									133	36	1917-1918		134	4	2011-2012									133	36	1904-1905		134	4	1952-1953									133	36	1874-1875		134	4	1931-1932									137	39	1903-1904		134	4	1918-1919									138	44	1884-1885		138	3	2001-2002									139	45	1977-1978		139	1	1997-1998																								

thanks Ray!...

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FYI, the elevation difference between PHL and the old Post Office in Center City (where the office was for many years) is less than 30 feet.  PHL is 8 feet while the post office is about 36 feet.

 

Good catch.  In addition to the elevation, in my mind's eye, I was picturing the Delaware River (and the associated marshland that surrounds much of PHL) having a large impact on temperatures, but that is probably as much about my personal biases coming into play than it is reality.  Sure, if the River is unfrozen, its impact on temperatures could mean a degree or two added warmth on the coldest nights, but, heck, even the Atlantic Ocean does not, for example, impact ACY that much on good radiational cooling nights, and ACY probably isn't too much further from the Atlantic than PHL is from the Delaware.  Even a few weeks ago, I believe ACY went below 0 F (or at least got closer than PHL) on one of those cold nights.      

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Good catch.  In addition to the elevation, in my mind's eye, I was picturing the Delaware River (and the associated marshland that surrounds much of PHL) having a large impact on temperatures, but that is probably as much about my personal biases coming into play than it is reality.  Sure, if the River is unfrozen, its impact on temperatures could mean a degree or two added warmth on the coldest nights, but, heck, even the Atlantic Ocean does not, for example, impact ACY that much on good radiational cooling nights, and ACY probably isn't too much further from the Atlantic than PHL is from the Delaware.  Even a few weeks ago, I believe ACY went below 0 F (or at least got closer than PHL) on one of those cold nights.      

 

Moral of this thread: don't argue with Ray.

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Good catch.  In addition to the elevation, in my mind's eye, I was picturing the Delaware River (and the associated marshland that surrounds much of PHL) having a large impact on temperatures, but that is probably as much about my personal biases coming into play than it is reality.  Sure, if the River is unfrozen, its impact on temperatures could mean a degree or two added warmth on the coldest nights, but, heck, even the Atlantic Ocean does not, for example, impact ACY that much on good radiational cooling nights, and ACY probably isn't too much further from the Atlantic than PHL is from the Delaware.  Even a few weeks ago, I believe ACY went below 0 F (or at least got closer than PHL) on one of those cold nights.      

 

At PHL, I think the location can make a difference under the right conditions. Normally at my location the morning low this winter has averaged about 2 to 4 degrees colder than KPHL. On Sat. Jan 4th, the coldest morning of the 1st cold snap - the low at KPHL was 8F, while here it was 2F. I looked at the hourly stats for that night and around 4 am a light wind shifted to the south (at KPHL), (the Delaware River is about 1/2 mile south of the tower), and that appears to have been the end of the temp. drop for the night, while out here the low was around 7 am, which you would expect. The sky conditions were similar, i.e., some clouds but not a solid cloud deck.

ACY is a little further removed from water, but more important I believe is that the surroundings to the west and north are much less developed.

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Good catch.  In addition to the elevation, in my mind's eye, I was picturing the Delaware River (and the associated marshland that surrounds much of PHL) having a large impact on temperatures, but that is probably as much about my personal biases coming into play than it is reality.  Sure, if the River is unfrozen, its impact on temperatures could mean a degree or two added warmth on the coldest nights, but, heck, even the Atlantic Ocean does not, for example, impact ACY that much on good radiational cooling nights, and ACY probably isn't too much further from the Atlantic than PHL is from the Delaware.  Even a few weeks ago, I believe ACY went below 0 F (or at least got closer than PHL) on one of those cold nights.      

Well, keep in mind ACY is 10 miles inland.  PHL *is* much closer to the Delaware River than ACY is to the back bays, let alone the ocean.

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