Holiday U.S. warmth boosted by climate change | Climate Central
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Christmas is expected to be exceptionally warm across a majority of the United States, particularly the Great Plains.

Above-average temperatures are forecast across much of the country during the holiday, but the core of the warmth — where departures from normal will be the largest — is anticipated to extend from the Front Range of the Rockies into the Central Plains and Upper Midwest.

Over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, daily high temperatures in these regions are forecast to range between 20°F and 35°F above the 1991-2020 climate normals. Much of the western and eastern U.S. is also expected to experience unusual warmth, 5°F to 15°F above average.

Holiday high temperatures are anticipated to reach the 60s to 80s from the Plains to the Gulf Coast. For many, this warmth will challenge or break daily high temperature records. On Christmas morning, low temperatures are expected to range from 40°F to the mid-60s, or up to 25°F above average for late December.

Climate Shift Index (CSI) levels of 3 are forecast across the Central and Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and the Southwest, meaning human-caused climate change made this warmth at least 3 times more likely. CSI levels of 5 — the highest possible — are forecast in portions of Missouri and throughout the Southwest and Mexico, signaling an exceptional climate-influenced event.

  • HubertManne@piefed.socialEnglish
    4·
    3 days ago

    Its funny in early november the forecasts was for this extreme winter that would stay cold all the way into febuary. Maybe march. Its kinda funny firstly because its painted as extreme but it would be what I would call a typical winter before the 90’s. Like just average. It was the way winter typically was. Then on top of it the long range forecast break down and by the end of november its now showing the weather breaking and then being unseasonably warm right through febuary. This has basically been the new reality of winter in this area for the new millenium. You get about a month of winter in december or january and the rest is unseasonably warm. Typical to me way back when was by sometime in december but as early as november. Winter would set in and then not really break until march. You could get a situation where most of the snow was gone mid season but it was generally a long process of no snow along with high temps getting into the 30’s. With all the dry air much of it was due to sublimation usually. It usually did not last long before more snow took its place.