Coldest day of year - season midpoint

[rawlins02]

For many locations in the Northern Hemisphere, the coldest day of the year, climatologically speaking, is around the 20-21 of January. In other words, if we average the daily mean temperatures over many years, we see that it tends to be coldest around this date. Obviously does not apply if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.

The coldest time of year comes nearly a month after the winter solstice, which is the day when the sun's radiation at the top of the atmosphere reaches a minimum over the course of the year; because of the low sun angle we receive, on average, the least amount of solar radiation on that day. But the land surface (and water) continue to lose more energy than they gain each day for another month, so air temperatures continue to cool until around Jan 20-21.

Happy heating season mid-point!

PS - forecast here call for temps in the low 40s today...coldest weather (teens) to come next week.

 

[ewdudley]

Here it's more like the 18th, so I was celebrating all day yesterday!

Here's my end-of-winter schedule: 6 Dec, earliest sunset, 21 Dec shortest day, 18 Jan coldest (climatological) day, Ground Hog's Day, Superbowl, Valentine's Day, Daytona 500, NCAA Championship, St. Patrick's Day, Spring, Easter, let's plant some peas!

So you see, not too long after Thanksgiving it's all downhill.

 

[blades]

Jan 21-23 Coldest we have seen this season, Neg at night single digit days deg. F Back to the 20's days by next weekend. Possible snow as it warms back up, If it does put a blanket of white down then Feb. is going to be quite cold. March is never a stable month and MarchApril can be the worst for storms snow and rain some times together.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Our coldest part of winter is January 20-23 on average. And wouldn't you know it, right on schedule came this deep freeze we are into. I about froze out there today and tomorrow's high expected to be 8. Burrrrrrr.

 

[Hearth Mistress]

Never knew that but it's right on target here. It has been in upper 40's - 50's for few weeks but north winds are on the way tonight, along with some snow this week. Highs/lows will be mid 20's/low teens all week. Brought in some kiln dried oak, finally need those BTUs Since our house is stone, our "burn season" is longer than most as without heat, it's a balmy 52 downstairs and barely 60 upstairs. Even on days when it's 60 I have the stove going, burning the "big uglies" to get the damp out and heat on. We have an old oil furnance as back up but 68 with baseboard heat is no where near the coziness of 68 with wood heat!

 

[pen]

Lots ice for fishing next weekend

 

[Beetle-Kill]

Supposed to hit 60 tomorrow. Grrrrr.......

 

[BrotherBart]

We were at 60 yesterday. High tomorrow, 23.

 

[fishingpol]

The woodpile is showing a sizeable dent in it now.

There is something to be said about going outside to the woodpile in the crisp cold air at night for a few minutes. Especially a clear night with the moon out and nothing stirring about.

I went ice fishing Saturday ended up taking the jacket off, near 50 it was.

More sunlight now, a few weeks we'll be rounding the corner.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Supposed to hit 60 tomorrow. Grrrrr.......

Please send it east!

 

[Mrs. Krabappel]

My brother got the July birthday. Sprinklers. Ice Cream.
Mine gets to be the coldest of the year. Party often cancelled due to snowdrifts

 

[firefighterjake]

My brother got the July birthday. Sprinklers. Ice Cream.
Mine gets to be the coldest of the year. Party often cancelled due to snowdrifts

Hehheh . . . that's my wife and me. I get the July 14th birthday celebration with swimming . . . she is lucky if plans aren't canceled due to a snow storm.

 

[firefighterjake]

For many locations in the Northern Hemisphere, the coldest day of the year, climatologically speaking, is around the 20-21 of January. In other words, if we average the daily mean temperatures over many years, we see that it tends to be coldest around this date. Obviously does not apply if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.

The coldest time of year comes nearly a month after the winter solstice, which is the day when the sun's radiation at the top of the atmosphere reaches a minimum over the course of the year; because of the low sun angle we receive, on average, the least amount of solar radiation on that day. But the land surface (and water) continue to lose more energy than they gain each day for another month, so air temperatures continue to cool until around Jan 20-21.

Happy heating season mid-point!

PS - forecast here call for temps in the low 40s today...coldest weather (teens) to come next week.

Thanks for posting this . . . this was something I was thinking about the other day . . . was wondering why the coldest days always seem to be later than the shortest day of the year.

 

[yooperdave]

Thanks to the 'ol Alberta clipper' right now I'll take any of the above mentioned temps!

 

[pen]

Thanks for posting this . . . this was something I was thinking about the other day . . . was wondering why the coldest days always seem to be later than the shortest day of the year.

Same goes for the hottest days