Daily Archives: December 3, 2019

NYC (KLGA) Climatology for December

During my time taking classes as part of Penn State University’s Undergraduate Certificate in Weather Forecasting, we were taught that understanding the climatology of the location you are interested in is an important prerequisite for making accurate forecasts. This post continues on this theme, adding a climatology for December.

Other Month’s Climatologies

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
November

Station Basic Information

City Name / Station ID: New York, NY (LaGuardia Airport – KLGA)

Local Geography and Topography

Station Elevation: 10 feet above sea level.

Station Location: LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) is situated on the north shore of Queens along the East River, approximately 6 miles east-northeast of Midtown Manhattan.

KLGA’s location within the broader NYC area, as seen in a Google Maps terrain view

Important Topographical Features: New York City is located in the extreme southeastern corner of New York State, bordering suburban New Jersey and Connecticut. These suburban regions combined with those in Long Island comprise the Greater New York City Metropolitan Area, which is the most populous urban agglomeration in the United States and one of the populous urbanized areas in the world with an estimated population of 18 million. New York City itself sprawls across the coastal plain around the Hudson River estuary. The terminal moraine formed by glaciers of the last Ice Age result in a ridge of higher terrain that cuts a swath from southwest to northeast across the boroughs from northern Staten Island, northern Brooklyn, southwestern through central and northeastern Queens. Otherwise, the city itself is low lying. This ridge varies in height between 200-400 feet, rising sharply from south to north, but tapering more gently north. North and west of the city (about 30-50 miles away), lie significant elevations of the Catskills (north), Poconos (west), Taconics that are part of the broader Appalachian Mountain Range. The elevations of the lower foothills can range from 1000-1500 feet. Some of the elevations in the Poconos and Catskills, west and north of KLGA respectively, peak between 2000-3000 feet. The open expanse of the Atlantic Ocean lies south of KLGA and New York City. Long Island Sound also lies east-northeast. The vast urbanized area of the NYC metropolitan region has significant effects on local microclimates via differential heating (urban heat island effect). KLGA is in a low-lying area sensitive to UHI effects and marine influences.

Topographical map of New York State

Per the Local Climatological Data report from the National Weather Service:

On winter mornings, ocean temperatures which are warm relative to the land reinforce the effect of the city heat island and low temperatures are often 10-20 degrees lower in the inland suburbs than in the central city. The relatively warm water temperatures also delay the advent of winter snows. Conversely, the lag in warming of water temperatures keeps spring temperatures relatively cool. One year-round measure of the ocean influence is the small average daily variation in temperature.

National Weather Service – NYC Office

Wind Patterns

Below is a wind rose – you can read more about how to interpret this chart here.

Frequency (percentage) of the single most common wind direction: West-northwest (13.75%).

Directions that are most and least common: Other most common wind directions include due northwest (13.5%), due west (11%), and due southwest (8%). Least common wind directions are east-southeast (1%), due southeast (1.25%), and south-southeast (1.5%).

Direction(s) most likely to produce the fastest winds: As is the case with November, winds in excess of 21.4 knots (~25 mph) are most frequently found coming from due northwest. West-northwest, north-northwest, due northeast winds can also produce winds over 21.4 knots though less frequently.

Direction(s) least likely to produce the fastest winds: As is the case with several other months, the least common wind directions of due east, east-southeast, and due southeast also rarely seen winds in excess of 16.4 knots.

Impacts of wind direction on local weather: December’s winds build on a pattern first seen in November, where winds from the northwestern quadrant become prominent. In December, winds from due west to northwest become markedly more common, while the frequency of winds from the southwesterly quadrant continues to decrease. In addition, the frequency of winds in excess of ~25 mph (21.4 knots) from the northwesterly quadrant also increases.

Northwesterly winds bring cooler, drier Canadian air into the region following cold fronts. Winds from this direction also occur on the backside of departing coastal lows. Winds from these directions downslope coming off the higher terrain of the Catskills, and Poconos outside of the city. This can sometimes lead to warmer temperatures than would normally be expected for this wind direction as well as faster wind speeds. As with other months, northeasterly winds are usually related to backdoor cold fronts sweeping from the Canadian Maritimes, the onshore flow ahead of an advancing warm front, or a passing coastal storm to the south.

Maximum observed two-minute wind speed for the month: 38 knots (44 mph).

Temperature and Precipitation Averages/Records

Temperature units are in Fahrenheit and precipitation is in inches.

Worth noting: December average high temperatures drop into the 40s. It’s the first month of the winter where record lows have historically dipped below 0°F at times.

DateNormal HighNormal LowRecord HighRecord LowRecord Lowest MaxRecord Highest MinNormal PrecipRecord Precip
14937711929540.121.29
24937661732510.132.22
34836691123540.131.48
44836741227590.121.76
54836692132560.131.38
64735721825580.121.29
74735751728500.121.39
84735641826520.120.94
94634661327520.132.68
10463470922530.120.96
114634671424490.122.74
12453366819530.121.32
13453363820530.123.65
144533641224510.111.75
154432671526520.121.18
164432621321470.112.39
17443261921500.111.29
184331621625470.111.29
194331571423470.111.31
20433161-216540.111.07
21433062-117500.111.92
22423069817560.111.59
23423066719540.111.45
24423072421590.121.27
25422964-110540.111.27
26412962517470.112.62
27412963920540.111.17
284129651219470.101.25
294128681222540.101.26
30412863321480.101.56
31402863313500.101.31
Range41-4928-3757-75-2-2110-3247-590.10-0.130.94-3.65



NYC Weather Update – Dec 3, 2019

A quiet, though colder than normal week lies ahead after the departure of Monday’s storm. This storm ended up not bringing the city much of any accumulating snow, though the story was quite different further north. High pressure settles in briefly before a weaker disturbance affects the area later in the week. An arctic front passes Friday, bringing a reinforcing shot of cold. Temperatures during this time will range in the low-40s.

Rest of today – mostly sunny with high temperatures in the low-40s. Winds diminishing as the low that hit us yesterday continues to pull away to the northeast. Overnight lows around the freezing mark.

Weather Prediction Center surface forecast for 7PM Wednesday

Wednesday – partly sunny with high temperatures in the low-40s. Overnight lows in the mid-30s.

Thursday – mostly sunny with high temperatures in the low-40s, and overnight lows in the low-30s.

Climate Prediction Center temperature outlook for next week. A warm up is coming after this week of below normal cold.

Friday – mostly sunny with high temperatures in the low-40s and overnight lows in the mid-20s behind the passage of a dry Arctic front.