The local paper here at me judice has an article on how cold it has been this winter: January departs as 20th coldest on record.
The paper edition includes the list of the 19 years colder.
Top 21 coldest average temperatures (Fahrenheit) in the Pittsburgh region since 1875 as recorded by the National Weather Service
- 1977: 11.4
- 1940: 17.4
- 1918: 18.6
- 1912: 20.4
- 1981: 20.5
- 1970: 20.7
- 1982: 20.9
- 1994: 21.1
- 1963: 21.1
- 1979: 21.4
- 2003: 21.5
- 1893: 21.6
- 1948: 21.7
- 1945: 22.0
- 1985: 22.1
- 1961: 22.2
- 1978: 22.6
- 1936: 22.6
- 1875: 22.6
- 2004: 23.1
- 1966: 23.1
Several things become obvious when you look at this chart. The news outlets around here are making a big deal about the cold. But after all, it is January. As the chart shows, January is regularly a cold month, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. And last year was colder, so everyone has a recent reference point. But note: the difference between most of these months in the top twenty is quite small. The difference in average temperature between 20 (and 21) at 23.1 degrees and number four at 20.4 degrees is just 2.7 degrees, which is hardly noticeable. 1977 also stands out as an unusually cold month, in contrast to this January. When the month is that much colder, you notice. I remember that year and it was clearly colder.
But the other thing that stands out to me is how these 21 coldest months are from the entire range from 1875 up to today. They are not clustered together at one end of the time range or the other, indicating a pattern of weather change. When you see the record high temperatures, you will notice the same thing.
Now, I know that global warming is an article of faith to some people, and every weather abnormality is a further proof of this article of faith. If it is hot, it is because of global warming. If it is cold, it is because of global warming. Droughts and floods are also both caused by global warming. But if you can separate the facts from the hysteria, I believe you will see that sometimes it gets hot, and sometimes it gets cold. It always has.
