Paul Douglas Weather Column: Nothing Rough Through the End of 2012

December in Review
By Todd Nelson

Welcome to Winter! After an extremely warm start to December, temperatures have finally settled into a below average position and will continue through the New Year. Even with the more recent cool spell, December temperatures are running nearly 4 degrees above average. Interestingly, the only month that will have finished with below average temperatures in 2012 is October.

A recent article released by MN state climatologist Pete Boulay said that 2012 will wind up in a tie for the warmest year on record in the Twin Cities along with 1931. 2012 across the nation will likely wind up being the warmest year on record!

Thanks to about 2.5" of fluff late last week, the Twin Cities will end up with 15" of snow for the month, which is nearly 4" above the December average. Season to date, the Twin Cities has only seen 15.8" of snow, which is nearly 5" below normal.

A blob of Arctic air will get hung up over the Hudson Bay into the new year. Several moisture starved clipper systems will sail in from the northwest, sending frequent bouts of that cold stuff our way through next week. Other than a few light flurries it looks like a shovel free forecast for a while. -Todd Nelson
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Todd's Conservation MN Outlook for the Twin Cities and all of Minnesota:

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. South wind develops, clipper arrives late. High: 25.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Moisture starved clipper system rolls through, a few flurries possible. Cold NW winds develop. Low: 6

NEW YEAR'S EVE: Cold! Closing the books on 2012. High: 7

NEW YEAR'S EVE NIGHT: Stay warm ringing in the New Year!. Low: -7

NEW YEAR'S DAY: Cold start to 2013! High: 13

WEDNESDAY: Fading PM sun, nothing rough. Low: 6. High: 14.

THURSDAY: Weather maps look quiet. Low: 0. High: 14.

FRIDAY: Sunny and a little warmer. Low: 5. High: 20.

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Guntersville, AL

Thanks to @MainStormTower for the picture below out of Gunterville, AL

Duluth, MN

Thanks to my good friend Wanda Brandt for the picture below from Duluth, MN

Denali National Park, AK

Thanks to the Denali National Park, AK Facebook page for the picture below of the last full moon of 2012.

Noblesville, IN

Thanks to @samlgookins for the picture below of heavy snow falling in Noblesville, IN from this weekend's snow event across the Ohio Valley.

Ohio Valley Snow Totals

Here are some of the highest snow tallies I could find from across the Ohio Valley.

More Snow in the Northeast

The image below shows all the winter headlines through AM Sunday. Snow totals of up to 12" are possible in localized areas!

Northeast Snow Totals Thru Sunday

The RPM model suggests shovelable snow amounts for many in the Northeast through Sunday. The storm will deposit several inches of snow across parts of Maine.

Lingering NE Snow on Sunday

Here's the weather map around midday Sunday. Lingering snow showers/flurries along with breezy northwesterly winds will allow for blowing and drifting snow through much of the day Sunday. There may even be a few lingering flight delays early Sunday.

More Snow on the Way

There another storm developing across the mid-section of the nation will have more shovelable snow potential for folks from Kansas to the Eastern Great Lakes by early next week. The NAM forecast brings up to 6" possible around the Kansas City, MO area around the New Year. This forecast CAN and WILL change... stay tuned!

COLD New Year's Forecast

It definitely looks like winter into the New Year. The extended forecast calls for a big Arctic blog to set up over the Hudson Bay through next week. Waves of this modified Arctic air will settle south of the international border by way of moisture starved clipper systems.