DECEMBER, 2022 Monthly Climate Review:  December, 2022 in Canaan Valley went down in the books with  a near average monthly temperatures, quite dry, and with much-below-average snowfall.  The data are based on the official published NWS Cooperative weather station near Deerfield Village in the south end of the valley (unless otherwise noted).  The month also featured wild swings in temperature, not apparent in the monthly statistics.

Two noteworthy headlines were;

1)  The lack of climatologically typical northwest wind upslope snows with a persistent southwest flow aloft, and,

2)  A major Arctic outbreak that produced frigid temperatures and dangerously low wind chills Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Additional notes include:

The observed average monthly temperature of 28.9° F was 0.9° F below (near average) the 30-year 1991-2020 decadal average of 29.8° F .

The month's 2.91 inches of liquid equivalent of all precipitation (melted snow, sleet, & freezing rain, plus rain) was only 60 percent of the 4.86 inch 30-yr. average (very dry) .

The 6.0 inches of snowfall measured on the Valley floor was only 19 percent of the 30-year average of 31.3 inches.  This is the lowest December snowfall in 7 years (2015), when 4.2 inches was measured.  Snowfall was one of the lowest December amounts in the valley's entire 78-year long climate record.

The number of days with 1-inch or greater snow depth (snow on the ground) was 12, surprisingly only 3 days less than the 30-year average.  However, the maximum snow depth was only 2 inches, a whopping 10 inches below the 12-inch average maximum depth for Decembers during the same 30 years.  

The maximum snow depth in the woods on the valley rim above 3,700 feet reached 6 inches.  There, with the wind protection of the forest, not as much snow blew about on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as in more windswept open areas on the valley floor.

Weekly Outlook & Beyond:  The situation is not looking good for snow-lovers and winter recreation.  Way-above-seasonal temperatures will continue through Wednesday. Some record daily maximums may be in jeopardy of being exceeded with Tuesday afternoon having a shot to make 65-to-70° F!  

Above freezing temps will rule 24/7 through this period until a rather rinky-dink cold front ushers in below freezing, near average seasonal temps Friday.  Afternoons in the 50's and 60's F Monday through Wednesday will include mild, above-freezing mornings in the 30's and 40's F.

Thursday, the dome of very mild air dominating eastern North America weakens, allowing cooler air in from the mid-west.  Some accumulating upslope snow is possible Friday into the weekend with weak northwesterly flow behind the cold front.  Right now, I wouldn't write home about the rather subtle pattern change possibly on tap for late week.  

Beyond that, indications continue to suggest that above average January temperatures will continue over the WV High Country (and much more) through January, 2023, as discussed in your last Fearless Outlook.   National Weather Service Temperature Outlooks illustrating the chances through 3 to 4 weeks out are shown in Figures 1 through 3 below.   

Snow-making opportunities will be non-existent through Wednesday, improving somewhat Thursday into the weekend.

I will update details on the potential upslope snow and forecast into next weekend this Wednesday around 9 am.

Your Fearless Canaan Weatherman
(aka:  Bob Leffler)

Figure 1:  NWS 6-to-10 Day Temperature Outlook