Last winter was the 15th coldest ever recorded in the region, but Old Man Winter hasn't been in the mood to come blowing into town much — just yet.
With plentiful sunshine and 11 days this November reaching at least 64 degrees, wintry weather has eluded the Alle-Kiski Valley thus far.
November offered above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Lee Hendricks, reporting from Moon Township.
Record snowfall and icy blasts that hit the Midwest became mostly misty or sporadic rain by the time it reached the Valley.
November saw merely trace amounts of snow — a far cry from last November's 4.1 inches of snow, ice and hail.
“Last winter was brutal,” said Hendricks.
Rainfall this November measured at 1.38 inches, a decrease from November 2014's precipitation of just under 2 inches.
But the average daytime high temperature was significantly higher — 58.3 degrees, compared to the average high in November 2014 of 51.2 degrees.
Nights were warmer on average, too. November's average nighttime low was 39.5 degrees, compared to 34.7 degrees in 2014.
Summer temperatures occurred on consecutive days early in the month, when the high reached 76 degrees on Nov. 4 and again the next day.
November's low occurred Nov. 23, when the nighttime low dipped to 20 degrees.
Looking ahead
Hendricks notes the two-month outlook for Pittsburgh is “trending colder toward the latter half of December and the first half of January 2016.”
“Pittsburgh is expected to experience below normal temperatures beginning in late January through February, with near normal precipitation,” he said.
Joyce Hanz is a freelance writer.
