Can You Find the Cold & Warm Fronts?

March 26, 2012: Fronts and Temperatures.
The two maps to the left show the frontal systems yesterday afternoon across the lower 48 states along with the high temperatures for the day. It is a perfect example of frontal systems and the associated air masses (and temperatures) on either side of the fronts. Note the area of red color with temperatures into the 80's F ahead of the cold front extending from western Nebraska down to New Mexico. This area of red with 80 F temperatures also stretches across the southeastern U.S. and is south of an advancing cold front. What a dramatic temperature difference on the other side of this frontal system with high temperatures only in the 30's F and 40's F and 50's F across the upper Midwest, Great Lakes and New England Region. High temperatures in the Pacific Northwest were also much cooler and are generally in the 40's and 50's F.

U.S. Winter 2011-12, was 4th Warmest on Record

NOAA: Winter 2011-12 Much Warmer than Normal

On average, the 2011-2012 winter was a mild one for the contiguous United States. When NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center crunched the numbers for December, January and February—”meteorological” winter for 2011-2012—it stacked up as the fourth warmest of the past 117 winters. The seasonal average temperature was 36.8 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 3.9 degrees above the 20th century average.

For more information read the entire NOAA article at the following Internet address http://www.climatewatch.noaa.gov/article/2012/u-s-has-fourth-warmest-winter-on-record-west-southeast-drier-than-average

Lincoln, NE, March 1-21, 2012 Temperature Ranking

Warmest March on Record for March 1-21, 2012

What an incredibly warm March 2012 so far. The attached photo was taken on March 22, 2012 at Hardin Hall (East Campus of UNL) looking west (at the City Campus of UNL). As of March 22, 2012 the trees in Lincoln, NE, are already in leaf for one of our earliest ever spring tree leafing out.

Looking at the March 1-21 time period for the 127 years of data (1887-2012) we are currently the warmest march on record. Here is a listing of the top ten warmest March 1-21 time periods for Lincoln, NE. Daily Average temperatures (the average between the daily highs and lows) were used for this table.

Lincoln, NE Warmest Average Temperatures for March 1-21, 1887-2012

Rank, Temperature, Year

1 51.5 3/21/2012

2 48.9 3/21/1910

3 48.3 3/21/1894

4 47.1 3/21/1921

5 46.7 3/21/1946

6 45.3 3/21/1990

7 44.8 3/21/1938

8 44.7 3/21/1936

9 44.6 3/21/1992

10 44.5 3/21/1987

March 1-18, 2012 Warmest on Record for Lincoln

March 1-18, 2012 Warmest on Record for Lincoln

Map of the temperature departures from normal for the month to date (March 1-18). It's been quite the early Spring heat wave! March 1-18, 2012 is the warmest on record for Lincoln for that 18 day period (data go back to 1887).
Here are the top ten warmest:
1 50.5 3/18/2012
2 48.4 3/18/1894
3 46.9 3/18/1910
4 46.2 3/18/1921
5 46.0 3/18/1946
6 45.4 3/18/1992, 3/18/1990
8 44.5 3/18/1936
9 44.2 3/18/1968
10 43.6 3/18/1987

Maps of Daily Records

Maps of Record Temperatures and Precipitation.
Here is another excellent site for viewing record events. Any single variable can be mapped or any group of variables from the following list can be mapped.

Available Variables:
Maximum temperature

Lowest Maximum temperature

Minimum temperature

Highest Minimum temperature

Rainfall and snowfall

Here is the link to get to this site and to create these maps. http://wx.hamweather.com/maps/climate/records/yesterday/us.html

Here is a link to the records for the last two days:
http://wx.hamweather.com/maps/climate/records/2days/us.html

Here is a link to the records of the past week:
http://wx.hamweather.com/maps/climate/records/1week/us.html

Records "Look-Up" Maps

Look Up Records and Map Them.

What a great site for anyone interested in looking up record temperatures, precipitation amounts and snowfall amounts. This program at NCDC allows you to choose the time frame, the variable, and the location and the records are then mapped for you.

The map to the left shows the record high temperatures on March 12, 2012 produced at this site. Be patient when accessing the site, it loads slowly.
Here is the link to the site: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/records/