December 21 Winter Begins Today And Feels Like It: Very Cold Wind For Penn State And Ravens Games

December 21, 2024

Saturday Morning Report

Happy First Day of Winter! The Winter Solstice was at 4:21 AM and today will definitely feel like the new season.  As the coastal storm races far away, there is a lot of upper-level energy still left to pass overhead. This will enhance the strong winds AND even keep some flurries and snow showers around.

Two big football games are in our region today. Penn State hosts the first round of the College Playoffs at noon in State College, PA, and the Ravens host the Steelers at 4:30 PM in Baltimore. Both will have painfully cold winds for fans and players, with gusts to 30 mph and wind chills in the teens and 20s.

The temps bottom out on Sunday, then moderate to near average during the holiday week. Christmas Eve may begin with a light snow or wintry mix.

Farther Ahead, I explored how January may begin, and it looks both cold and maybe stormy.

Let’s take a look:

CLIMATE DATA: Baltimore

TODAY December 21

Sunrise at 7:23 AM

Sunset at 4:47 PM

Normal Low in Baltimore:  29ºF

Record 5ºF in 1942

Normal High in Baltimore: 46ºF

Record 71ºF 2013

Baltimore Drought Update

• 7.35 inches BELOW AVERAGE rainfall since September 1st
• 7.83 inches BELOW AVERAGE rainfall since January 1st

Local Morning Temperatures

Morning Surface Weather

The coastal storm is racing past Nova Scotia, Canada. Strong winds associated with the new cold air mass and upper-level energy have kicked up some snow bands off the Great Lakes.

The snow band we saw yesterday ended up north of Philadelphia and over New York City this morning for their first snow of the season.

Jet Stream: Vorticity

This is a representation of the energy around 18,000 Ft. above the ground. This spin helps snow showers survive… which is why we may see a few light bands or flurries into the afternoon.

Wind Forecast: 8 AM to 8 PM

A strong flow from the Northwest will ease a little by evening.

Snapshot 4 PM

Peak Wind gusts up to 30 mph.

Temperatures

Wind Chills

8 PM Snapshot (End Of Ravens Home Game)

Temperatures

Wind Chills

SUNDAY DECEMBER 22

The core of the cold air will settle in and keep most of the region below freezing.

Morning Temperatures

Afternoon Temperatures

HOLIDAY SNEAK PEEK

A new weak clipper will have the trailing front through our region. This is expected to cross Wednesday morning with a band of snow and wintry mix.

Christmas Eve MORNING

The timing may be earlier… but at this time, we can look for light snow or sleet around sunrise on Tuesday morning.

Looking Ahead to 2025

This is the report I wrote on social media yesterday. Depending on your presence or mobile connection, I will share both the Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) links.

FACEBOOK POST

X Post

OUTLOOK: COLD START TO 2025
🤓 Let’s Geek Out For A Bit

😀 I have been liking what I have been seeing and this is NOT like recent winters for sure! #FITF

🥶I’ve noticed we have been trending colder than longer range outlooks. This December in the Mid Atlantic is a prime example… pic.twitter.com/ggVI2BpfTz

— Justin Berk (@JustinWeather) December 20, 2024

7 Day Forecast

The cold is expected to hold for the start of next week, and then it will return to seasonal averages after Christmas.

There will be a surge of warmer temperatures during the last week of the year.. with the change around New Year’s to the pattern described above.

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In Case You Missed This

The Faith In The Flakes Dec 5 Origin Story

In Case You Missed It:

November 22 Snow Report

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RESTATING MY MESSAGE ABOUT DYSLEXIA

I am aware there are some spelling and grammar typos and occasional other glitches. I take responsibility for my mistakes and even the computer glitches I may miss. I have made a few public statements over the years, but if you are new here, you may have missed it: I have dyslexia and found out during my second year at Cornell University. It didn’t stop me from getting my meteorology degree and being the first to get the AMS CBM in the Baltimore/Washington region. One of my professors told me that I had made it that far without knowing and to not let it be a crutch going forward. That was Mark Wysocki, and he was absolutely correct! I do miss my mistakes in my own proofreading. The autocorrect spell check on my computer sometimes does an injustice to make it worse. I also can make mistakes in forecasting. No one is perfect at predicting the future. All of the maps and information are accurate. The ‘wordy’ stuff can get sticky.  There has been no editor who can check my work while writing and to have it ready to send out in a newsworthy timeline. Barbara Werner is a member of the web team that helps me maintain this site. She has taken it upon herself to edit typos when she is available. That could be AFTER you read this. I accept this and perhaps proves what you read is really from me… It’s part of my charm. #FITF