The main purpose of this ongoing blog is to track planetary extreme, or record temperatures related to climate change. Any reports I see of ETs will be listed below the main topic of the day. I’ll refer to extreme or record temperatures as ETs (not extraterrestrials).😉
Main Topic: The Big Contrast Between This and Last Year’s Christmas Extreme U.S. Temperatures
Dear Diary. Merry Christmas everyone! I hope that you and your loved ones are having a wonderful holiday. Many meteorologists and climatologists are noting how much of a big contrast there has been between extreme cold on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day of 2022 and warmth of 2023. This year I sent out these notes on Christmas Eve:
#MerryChristmas🎄everyone! But this is not like the Midwest Christmases I used to know, where the treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow. We must cease carbon emissions so that more Christmases may be cold + white-and not just a dream from the past. pic.twitter.com/KTg0GnGkWl
— Guy Walton (@climateguyw) December 24, 2023
Almost short sleeve weather across the Upper Midwest on Christmas Eve where many records were set, such as this one at Minneapolis. Just astounding since many times Minneapolis is near 0°F at Christmas. @MichaelEMann @KHayhoe @ClimateOfGavin @capitalweather @DonSuth89069583 pic.twitter.com/ojq9XDxypI
— Guy Walton (@climateguyw) December 25, 2023
Today marks the peak of the anomalous warmth across the central Plains & Midwest with an expansive warm sector & deep southerly flow.
— Tomer Burg (@burgwx) December 25, 2023
1-day averaged temperatures peak over 28F above normal in most of Iowa, Minnesota & Wisconsin: pic.twitter.com/HcFsB5EKSU
Here are mild mid-afternoon temperatures being reported during Christmas Day this year:
Granted, we do have a blizzard occurring across the northern Plains where temperatures are in the 20s. Once again Minneapolis is in the 50s, which is well above record levels:
❄️LIVE: I-80: York, NE Overpass: 80 from 81 overpass
— Live Storm Chasers (@LiveStormChaser) December 25, 2023
Rough travel conditions across much of Nebraska! pic.twitter.com/0NXwIB3J7D
Last year at this time I was writing about how cold the United States was:
Here are midafternoon temperatures posted then:
The extreme conditions on 24 December with the cold air reaching the Mexican tropical plains and the warmth flowing North caused that the weather conditions at Matlapa (lat 21.3N,132m asl) were similar to those of the island of St Pierre et Miquelon(lat 46.5N):drizzle and +6C/43F pic.twitter.com/L9WbVULVwz
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2022
Climate change is giving us the wanted present of big contrasts in extreme cold and warm temperatures this decade depending upon the ENSO cycle (El Niño/La Niña) and jet stream configurations. Yes, we will occasionally continue to see bitter cold weather despite overall global warmth. We should see more “weird” weather patterns, keeping in mind that warmth will be winning out with time this century except when there is a big uptick in volcanic activity. My own research shows this trend:
More Christmas Extreme Temperature Shenanigans:
Sign of the times https://t.co/62CSnFKHf0
— Dr. Marshall Shepherd (my record is my blue check) (@DrShepherd2013) December 24, 2023
Our climate is collapsing – nature is confused and can barely tell what season we are in and so we have Daffodils in the heart of Winter
— GO GREEN (@ECOWARRIORSS) December 25, 2023
Cue some denier trying to normalize this as normal https://t.co/1JcooZnVYq
61 degrees and sunny in Buffalo this Christmas day, one year ago however, they were in the throws of the worst winter storm in the area's history. #weather pic.twitter.com/RDazVxrZOl
— Tom Niziol (@TomNiziol) December 25, 2023
Merry Torchmas 🫠 pic.twitter.com/MA6xZYyBVB
— London & Southeast 🔆 (@TheSnowDreamer) December 25, 2023
Today‘s temperature deviation, relative to the average 25 Dec during the period 1979-2000. Some areas are 18°C or more warmer than normal. Where “normal” is a time interval already affected by global warming. pic.twitter.com/IbVMrTjvRr
— Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf 🌏 🦣 (@rahmstorf) December 25, 2023
Here are more “ET’s” recorded from around the planet the last couple of days, their consequences, and some extreme temperature outlooks, as well as any extreme precipitation reports:
Good morning to our lowest snow cover ever recorded by @NOAA on Christmas Day! 🥲 pic.twitter.com/C9uAxjBDqB
— Heather Zons 💙 (@HeatherZWeather) December 25, 2023
Millions (dozens of millions around the world) of people are experiencing their warmest Christmas day in history.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
Many of them are in North America:
In Canada current temperature anomalies are exceptional in large swathes of the country, check the thread below 👎🧵 https://t.co/nNGKdK2c03
Another record warm day in EUROPE
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
In Austria🇦🇹 Monthly records beaten including 18.6C at Vienna
In France 🇫🇷up to 22.7C and >20C at 500m asl, 6 records beaten
In Bulgaria🇧🇬 December record at Viadin with 22.6C
In Germany 🇩🇪some records of warmest December night. pic.twitter.com/CG2uKnIxUF
Warmest Christmas ever recorded in the Netherlands!
— Kees van der Leun (@Sustainable2050) December 25, 2023
Average temperature at main met station De Bilt 11.8⁰C so far today. Forecast is 11⁰C until midnight. pic.twitter.com/hT4PsS9ttk
[2]
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
A good half of Europe is also experiencing very mild conditions: temperatures are near record levels for this time of the year between England and Western Poland with night temperatures in the range of +10C/+15C. https://t.co/L1jZ6XlSj3
Exceptional Christmas warmth in AUSTRIA.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
With the fohn now reaching the eastern part of the Alps, temperatures are at current +15C/+16C at 7am local time.
December records can fall.
Table is courtesy of Wetter Orf Austria. pic.twitter.com/FG3PQseiR1
Insane warm spell in Central Asia, records were brutalized specially of highest minimum temperatures
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
Temperatures up to 28C in Turkmenistan, >20C at 800m in Kazakhstan !, MINIMUMS temp. up to 18.1C in 24 hours at Saragt,the highest ever recorded in December in Central Asia. pic.twitter.com/8hXNCpPfR5
In South America Christmas Day is very hot in Western Paraguay (Chaco).
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
Yesterday 44.4C at Infante Rivarola.
Today MIN. temperatures up to 30.9C (close to the December highest ever recorded in South America).
Cooler from tomorrow but very hot again later next week. pic.twitter.com/J6jYAhgNbl
MINIMUM temperature of 31.4C today at Mariscal Estigarribia PARAGUAY, the highest ever recorded in December and 0.2C from the highest MIN. ever recorded in Paraguay in December.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
The heat in Paraguay in the past 5 months has been relentless,extreme…. https://t.co/ABB4Mpk92o
Christmas Day in AUSTRALIA:
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
Very hot in the West with some records of highest minimum temperatures.
Cool and rainy in the East with some rainfalls and some December lowest max. temperature records. pic.twitter.com/56tkHiaohu
2023 STATISTICS part.1
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
WORLD HOTTEST STATIONS (year average)
1-Matam ,Senegal
2-Makkah.Saudi Arabia
3-Djibouti,Djibouti
4-Yelimane,Mali
5-Gizan,Saudi Arabia
6-Linguere.Senegal
7-Tillabery,Niger
8-Podor,Senegal
9-Tambacounda.Senegal
10-Al Amerat.Oman
2023 STATISTICS part.2- RECORDS
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
592 long term stations set their all time highest temperature
36 their all time lows
—
168 National/territorial monthly records of highest temperature were beaten (including 26 for any month)
9 of lowest temperature (including 3 for any month)
Never ending record heat in the Gulf of Guinea,Africa.
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) December 25, 2023
37.0C at Mpouya REP. OF CONGO. Hottest December day in Congolese history beaten again
35.8C Doula CAMEROON monthly record
Records have been falling every day from Ivory Coast to Congo thanks to harmattan dry winds. https://t.co/zw8aqu8Yhj
Temperature in Beijing began to fall below 0C at 0:00 on December 11, and did not rise back to 0C until 14:50 today. It was below zero for 327 consecutive hours, setting a record for the longest period of continuously below 0C in December! @extremetemps @ThierryGooseBC pic.twitter.com/miHPx89ab9
— Jim yang (@yangyubin1998) December 24, 2023
Here is More Climate and News from Monday:
(As usual, this will be a fluid post in which more information gets added during the day as it crosses my radar, crediting all who have put it on-line. Items will be archived on this site for posterity. In most instances click on the pictures of each tweet to see each article. The most noteworthy items will be listed first.)
"Why More Precedent-Setting Storms, Fires, Floods Won’t Move Republican Minds on Climate Change" by @MaxTaves for @DCReportMedia: https://t.co/z9nmxXIaaY
— Prof Michael E. Mann (@MichaelEMann) December 25, 2023
I thought fossil fuel firms could change. I was wrong, writes #ChristianaFigueres
— Prof. Peter Strachan (@ProfStrachan) December 25, 2023
"Their unprecedented profits over the past year have shown their unwillingness to adapt. It’s now D-Day for them."#ClimateCrisis#RenewableEnergyhttps://t.co/aIdD5JnOGo
With 100 billion new garments manufactured globally every year producing 10% of global CO2 emissions
— GO GREEN (@ECOWARRIORSS) December 25, 2023
with huge volumes of discarded clothing
buy a lot less clothing overall, and buy used when possiblehttps://t.co/6POUxhdgCQ
My love of weather+sports often collides in my Forbes pieces. Christmas Day for me is about Family, Food, Fellowship and Thanks and a ton of NBA games. My latest on what @NBA best shooters like @TheTraeYoung teach us about new realities of extreme weatherhttps://t.co/QfKQ0bVj7A
— Dr. Marshall Shepherd (my record is my blue check) (@DrShepherd2013) December 25, 2023
🗣️📢🆘🌊🔥🌎🔥🌊🌍🌊🔥🌏🔥🌊🌿
— Robert Redmayne Hosking 🔥🌍🔥 (@rhosking252) December 24, 2023
WEEK 191: CLIMATE STRIKE ONLINE: @Fridays4future
A boiling planet doesn't take a christmas break.
Fighting climate collapse is a state of mind, we can bring a new level of commitment, but we must be willing to understand the dedication involved. pic.twitter.com/yATdtJRt1F
Courageous activists from Bonaire, South African communities, powerful youth in Portugal, and many more people around the world have made 2023 a watershed year for the climate justice movement, and redefined who has power. #ClimateJustice https://t.co/4hYVcqdsQd
— Greenpeace International (@Greenpeace) December 24, 2023
Today’s News on Sustainable Energy, Traditional Polluting Energy from Fossil Fuel, and the Green Revolution:
For years, opponents of wind energy development have argued that the projects lead to a decrease in property values. The results in a new paper are likely to become part of local debates about the ramifications of wind development.https://t.co/jRbmuDgwzg
— Inside Climate News (@insideclimate) December 25, 2023
Japan has trains that can go 200 miles per hour.
— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) December 25, 2023
France started high-speed train service in the '80s.
China has the world's fastest and largest high-speed rail network.
And the U.S., well the U.S. has next to nothing.
We have the solutions. Implement them. #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/cMyN4StXK7
The #EuropeanCentralBank (@ecb) must immediately divest from bonds of fossil fuel developers such as ENI, TotalEnergies, Shell and BP and ban the possibility of buying new bonds issued by fossil fuels developers.https://t.co/Q16hmQCDRM pic.twitter.com/vVAgn3msrM
— Greenpeace International (@Greenpeace) December 25, 2023
6 countries ~100% #WindWaterSolar in 2021
— Mark Z. Jacobson (@mzjacobson) December 24, 2023
10 countries 97.3-100% #WWS:
Albania
Bhutan
Nepal
Paraguay
Iceland
Ethiopia
Congo DR
Norway
Costa Rica
Namibia
17 countries > 80%
45 countries >50%https://t.co/KP3uii4BqI https://t.co/qTTNZJeCIU
More from the Weather Department:
Ever wondered if your tongue could really get stuck to a pole like in 'A Christmas Story'? 🤔
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) December 25, 2023
Leave the daring to the movies… @TWCAlexWallace has the science scoop! pic.twitter.com/34zmv9qPz6
Dear Santa,
— National Weather Service (@NWS) December 24, 2023
Sharing these key messages with you for a winter storm we have forming here in the central United States to ensure safe travel for you and the reindeer on this Christmas Eve. For all the local forecasts, you can find them on https://t.co/VyWINDkBnn
Love,
National… https://t.co/A9gfk40sG9
BIG-TIME flash flood in Catamarca, Argentina in the northwest corner of the Pampas. This looks to be off a wildfire burn scar with its dark color and debris pic.twitter.com/atfT7COeOD
— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerAccu) December 25, 2023
Following up from this post last week — the Canada trough failed to dig far SE enough to yield the low probability snow scenario I discussed, and as expected, most of the Northeast will receive rain from this upcoming cyclone. https://t.co/ckZWIJGRRL pic.twitter.com/Ef2bViw3hn
— Tomer Burg (@burgwx) December 25, 2023
Spoiler Alert: #PolarVortex disruption in January.
— severe-weather.EU (@severeweatherEU) December 25, 2023
Mid-term weather forecasts hint at a significant Stratospheric Warming developing. Stay tuned for an update later this week.
Video: @wxcharts pic.twitter.com/v7yjaN7iio
Join us in honoring the spirit of service and sacrifice this Christmas as we share holiday greetings from our military personnel across the world! pic.twitter.com/lEZiYTvqVl
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) December 25, 2023
More on the Environment and Nature:
There are only a few places on earth where thousand year old trees still stand. The west coast of Canada is one of them but every day they are logged.
— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) December 24, 2023
Time to stop the logging: https://t.co/5lrUNnvtHK #ProtecttheIrreplaceable#ActOnClimate #nature #Feb25 pics @TJWattPhoto pic.twitter.com/xSqkdLaWBN
From our archives: While Africa is losing vital rainforest, another trend is underway: small farmers are letting trees regrow on their lands.
— Yale Environment 360 (@YaleE360) December 25, 2023
By one estimate, there are now some 1.4 billion trees on farms across Africa.
Read more @YaleE360: https://t.co/du4a8rst16 pic.twitter.com/5OjN31aXMx
Five decades ago, Congress did the unimaginable: It passed a powerful environmental law with almost unanimous support. The Endangered Species Act turns 50 this week, and as we face a biodiversity crisis, it's one of our best tools to protect our planet. https://t.co/iBA1lUlguj
— Earthjustice (@Earthjustice) December 25, 2023
One of my old toothbrushes is probably in there somewhere. This is who we humans are. We can, and must, do better — seems like a reasonable 2024 New Year's Resolution. https://t.co/0i7ryueuzH
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) December 24, 2023
More trees on earth could combat climate change more effectively than previously thought. This is shown in a study by ETH Zurich. It also says that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 1.5-degree target for global warming is still achievable.💚🌿🌱☘️🌳🌲🍀💚 pic.twitter.com/RBjdQpitkJ
— Green is a mission (@Greenisamissio1) December 25, 2023
More on Other Science and the Beauty of Earth and this Universe:
Earth on Christmas Eve 1968 💙
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) December 24, 2023
William Anders took this color photograph of our planet #OTD on December 24, 1968 as the Apollo 8 crew orbited the Moon. https://t.co/z2agg9XkIN pic.twitter.com/R2Ox0Cu6ul
A pine turned into a Christmas tree with the help of a comet, 46P/Wirtanen, from Bleikvassli, Norway
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) December 24, 2023
[📸 Tommy Eliassen, 2018] pic.twitter.com/cmzRZdSpsk
A reindeer posing under an aurora
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) December 25, 2023
[📹 Aurora Borealis Obervatory]pic.twitter.com/zXlFsXUzjg
An incredible view as an iceberg flips over in Greenland. 🧊
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) December 25, 2023
This iceberg phenomenon is rare and known as "iceberg calving." It is the breaking of ice chunks from a glacier. If the center of gravity of the chunk is high enough, it can even flip over the ice chunk. pic.twitter.com/x4zn49tURF