A CHRISTMAS WARM SPELL

After weathering record cold in October and November, December has had above normal temperatures and the long term forecast does not show any cool down this week.  A small drop into the 60s is expected at the start ofChristmas week but we should warm back up into the 70s by Christmas.  


The map at the right is a hemispheric view of equal pressure levels around 18,000 feet or 500 millibars.  It  is displaying the average position height of 500 mb above the earth through December 26.  This is the height at the bottom layer of the Jet Stream. It gives us an idea of warm and cold air movements from across the globe.  These teleconnections give advance warning to cold air outbreaks.  But for now, I don't see any freezes reaching Florida anytime soon.  Notice how a ridge sits over Florida with above normal heights in the southeast.  Lower than normal values over California will set the stage for wet and cooler weather in the west. 

The ridge will keep it mildly warm and humid in Jacksonville and redirect any rainy systems around the southeast.  You can see above the rainfall forecast from the HPC and how we stay dry under the ridge.