Warmest Christmas since ’82 sends people outdoors
More seasonable temps predicted to make way into area this weekend.
Thick winter socks given as Christmas gifts this week will likely be left with tags on for a couple more days.
Reaching 62 degrees, Christmas was the warmest the Miami Valley has experienced since 1982. Since records began, Dayton has only reached the 60s on Christmas three times. This year was the fourth.
The unusually warm December temperatures, combined with many people having time
off work this week, made for crowded parks, bustling downtown sidewalks and a busy Yellow Springs bike trail. Forecasts say T-shirt temperatures will begin to disappear this weekend.
Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs said as the region heads into the weekend, colder air to the north and west will make its way back into the area on Sunday.
“When I say colder, it’s going to actually be more seasonable,” Vrydaghs said. “So we’ll get into the upper 30s and 40s into the new year, but even then that will still be considered above average because our typical high is around 36 degrees.”
The first heavy snowfall last week has made the ground pretty saturated, according to Vrydaghs. With highly saturated soil on a firm winter ground, there is a chance for minor flooding as a storm system moves in this weekend.
“This winter is different than the past few we’ve had because we don’t have an El Nino or La Nina in place and that’s really what drives our forecast,” Vrydaghs said. “When we start to shift to
‘January and February, I anticipate we will see some bigger cold snaps.’ McCall Vrydaghs
positive and negative phases, we start to see these big swings in temperature and that’s really what we were predicting in October. As we head into January and February, I anticipate we will see some bigger cold snaps and a better chance for snowfall.”
Skaters lined up to hit the ice at RiverScape on Thursday had to be cautious of some coned-off sections where the rink’s ice was melting more than staff would like. FiveRivers park technician Andrew Tarter said the rink is completely safe to operate until temperatures reach about 65 degrees.
“We encourage everyone to layer up and get outdoors year-round, even in colder temps,” said Kristen Wicker, FiveRivers spokeswoman. “But it’s certainly a treat to explore the outdoors when the sun is shining — and especially when the temps are warmer this time of year. It’s an opportunity to get a dose of Vitamin D ... Winter is also a great time to view highlights that might be hidden when the foliage is lush.”