Another year comes to a close on Wednesday night, and everyone will get together to sing that age-old classic penned by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788. I realize that you are looking at my blog title and thinking that I have really screwed up this time. You are also thinking that there is no known relationship between a world famous New Year's song and weather! Right?
We interrupt this blog for an important confession!
In the spirit of 'Olive the other reindeer', thinking that the U.S. flag was placed in a 'Richard stand' for the pledge of allegiance, feeling bad for Kenny Rogers when Lucille left him with 'four hundred children and a crop in the field', thinking that 'crowning thy good with Robin Hood' was a part of American history, and that the Canadian national anthem ended with 'and stand on cars and freeze,' I give you 'Old Hang Sign.' You know, the song commemorating the sign that sits in the bar window with the year emblazoned on it that undoubtedly has to be changed on New Years, and providing a reason to get together and have that cup of kindness with the acquaintances!
I think I was forty (and a man) when I finally saw "auld lang sign" in writing and asked what it was. So in the spirit of Robert Burns and his famous poem,
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne.
I bring you my final blog for 2008!
"Auld Lang Sign," means "old long since" (the Scottish version of 'once upon a time') and serves as a reminder. We are shaped by the places we've been, the experiences we've had, and the people we meet. The same can be said for weather and climate.
Weather patterns are shaped by place (i.e. coastal, inland, plains, mountains, poles, equator), and to some extent people (i.e. urban heat islands). In addition, the weather we experience today is a natural progression from the weather of yesterday, the day before, and so on.
The song could easily be rewritten...
Should auld the weather be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld the weather be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne.
This December, much of the nation experienced arctic cold and several noteworthy ice and snowstorms. In fact, record cold temperatures were set somewhere in the U.S. on 26 of the first 28 days of December. In December of 2007, record lows were set on just 12 days. Overall, 615 low temperature records fell this December compared to just 248 a year ago. Which begs the question...
Should auld the warming be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld the warming be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne.
The short answer is a resounding no. While 615 low temperature records were falling in the U.S. this December, high temperature records were broken 1567 times, 637 of them in the past three days.
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
Cold and warm weather patterns paddle together, usually with a very broad area of active weather roaring between them. When arctic air surges southward, it usually forces warm air northward with equal vigor. In many cases, days where record low temperatures are set in one part of the U.S. means record highs are set in an adjacent region. Here is an example from December 15th.
HamWeather map of record lows (purple) and record highs (red) set on Dec. 15, 2008
As this arctic air surged into the heart of the U.S. on December 16th, notice that most of the record rainfall reports are in a broad area between the record cold and record warm regions.
HamWeather map of record lows (purple), record highs (red) and record rainfall (green) set on Dec. 16, 2008
What will 2009 bring? As you take your cup of kindness this New Year's Eve, one thing is certain, the weather in 2009 will be record breaking!
When? Where? Keep checking Fox Weather throughout 2009 to find out!
Have a Happy, Safe and Weather-filled New Year!
