Weather Extremes

For the week of Dec. 30, there were 119 weather records broken or tied. All types of extremes were observed; 38.7 percent of the records were for warmth, 29.4 percent for cold, and 31.9 percent for precipitation and snowfall records.

Before 2007 came to a close, warm temperatures were observed in Florida. On Dec. 30, Melbourne reported a record high of 85 degrees. It was a record 84 degrees in Miami on Dec. 31. High temperatures soared into the 70s across parts of the nation’s midsection on Saturday. Oklahoma City and McAlester, Okla., each reported 72 degrees on that day and it was 82 degrees in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Temperatures in Florida went from record and near-record highs the last few days of December to record cold three to four days later. On Thursday, Miami hit a record low 40 degrees. Fort Myers dropped to 32 degrees on Friday. Charleston, S.C., observed a record low of 19 degrees on Jan. 4 as well. The most dramatic record low last week was in Alamosa, Colo., with minus 28 on Dec. 30.

Precipitation records fell across parts of the West and the drought-stricken Southeast. On Dec. 30, Macon, Ga., saw 2.67 inches of rain. On Friday, Winthrop, Wash., had 1.4 inches. A Pacific storm brought heavy rains to Southern California on Friday, when Bishop reported 4 inches of rain and Burbank 1.75 inches.

The Northeast received more snow. On Dec. 31, Concord, N.H., picked up 10.1 inches. At South Bend, Ind., 8.5 inches of snow fell on New Year’s Day, with 10.5 inches at Winthrop, Wash., on Friday.