December 2002 Pennsylvania
Weather Summary
December began chilly and a bit snowy in the northern part of Pennsylvania as a cold front moved south through the state on December 1st and 2nd. Temperatures dropped further on the 3rd as high pressure moved over the region. Highs were only in the mid twenties in most of the state. The month extreme low temperature for the state was recorded as –12 in Oswayo on the 3rd and 4th. On the 4th, a low-pressure system moved into the state from the south. The Philadelphia region received about 9 inches of snow from it. South and Central Pennsylvania also saw snow: moderate to high snowfall totals were observed there. After this event, high pressure moved in and the skies were cold and clear until another low-pressure system approached from the north on the 7th. This system warmed temperatures back to near normal and a little rain fell over the Commonwealth. After this however, high-pressure returned and the clear skies dropped temperatures very low. –12 was observed again in Oswayo on the 9th and 10th.
An ice storm affected Central Pennsylvania on December 10th. A quarter to a half of an inch of ice accumulated on land surfaces. This storm was the result of an area of low-pressure just south of Pennsylvania. The next day, freezing rain and sleet also affected the Eastern part of the state on when a storm moved up the coast from the Carolinas. In southerly parts of the region, up to an inch of rain fell. This rain then froze because the surface temperature was just below freezing. More northerly locations in the higher elevations received up to a half a foot of snow from this storm. This winter weather was severe enough to shut down parts of Interstates 80, 81, and 84.
December 14th brought another low-pressure system to the Commonwealth. Several tenths of liquid precipitation fell throughout the state from this system, although some parts of the west received the precipitation as snow. Temperatures around the state warmed to the low forties as the warm front of the next system moved in. Otherwise this system gave way to high-pressure uneventfully. On the 19th, the next low-pressure system reached the western border with Ohio. Temperatures warmed sharply with the warm air mass that was ushered in before the cold front. A state extreme for December of 66 was observed at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. Several more tenths of rain fell the as this system passed the next two days.
On the 24th a low-pressure system full of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico approached our region. It brought a white Christmas to the state of Pennsylvania. Central and Eastern Pennsylvania received the most snow. The highest totals of about 20 inches fell in Carbon and Monroe Counties. After this system moved out, high pressure dominated the rest of the month. Clear skies and normal temperatures were observed all over. However, as the people of Pennsylvania were preparing to ring in a new year on the night of the 31st, a storm system just off to the west was preparing to also.
-Lorri Bazzel
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Town(s) |
Date(s) |
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Max High Temp |
66 |
Carnegie Science
Center (Pitt) |
19 |
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Min Low Temp |
-12 |
Oswayo |
3, 4, 9, 10 |
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Max Rain |
6.91 |
Coatesville |
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Min Rain |
0.67 |
Donegal |
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Greatest Snow |
36.8 |
Pleasant Mount |
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