A cold few days during this 2-day pre-Christmas period was highlighted by my first sub-freezing max temp day on Thursday.

Wednesday was a transition day, drying out under strong NW winds at times. Partly to mostly sunny skies and gradually colder temps, particularly towards and in the evening Dew point temperatures dropped all day from around midnight to the mid single digits by late evening, almost 24 hours later. 

The maximum temperature was 37.4 degrees at 1205.

The minimum temperature was 24.3 degrees at 2356.

The dew point temperatures ranged from a high of 30 degrees @ 0000 down to a low of 7 degrees @ 2328.

The relative humidity values ranged from a high of 78% @ 0210 down to a low of 48% @ 2328.

The barometric pressure ranged from a low of 29.93 inches @ 0000 up to a high of 30.19 inches @ 2341.

The highest daily peak wind gust recorded across the street on the roof of the new USG building was 43 MPH at 1237 from the NW.

There was no precipitation Wednesday. My December monthly total precipitation is 2.57 inches.

There was no snow on Wednesday. No snow on the ground at midnight observation time. My seasonal total snowfall is 1.4 inches. The year-to-date precipitation total is 45.68 inches.

Thursday was quite cold, with slowly diminishing winds. It was the coldest day of the season so far, with my first sub-freezing max temp of 30.6, the first such day since March 6, 2019 when 28.7 was recorded. It was a mostly sunny day and with the diminishing winds during the day, feeling not as cold as it could have been. Dew point temperatures stayed low all day, ranging from the mid-single digits at midnight only up to the mid-teens by early evening. 

The maximum temperature was 30.6 degrees at 1534.

The minimum temperature was 20.0 degrees at 0724.

The dew point temperatures ranged from a low of 7 degrees @ 0000 up to a high of 16 degrees @ 1920.

The relative humidity values ranged from a high of 78% @ 0210 down to a low of 48% @ 2328.

The barometric pressure ranged from a low of 30.18 inches @ 0000 up to a high of 30.45 inches @ 0955.

The highest daily peak wind gust recorded across the street on the roof of the new USG building was 28 MPH at 0015 from the NW.

There was no precipitation Thursday. My December monthly total precipitation is 2.57 inches.

There was no snow on Thursday. My seasonal total snowfall is 1.4 inches. The year-to-date precipitation total is 45.68 inches.

My current downstairs station data is now showing regularly on Weather Underground. My data is posted there every 5 minutes. My ID is KMDROCKV200 and my station is called Gardens of Traville. Data is online, available in real-time as it is being updated on a 5 minute interval. The web address for my data on weather underground is https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KMDROCKV200 .

I contribute my precipitation data daily to CoCoRaHS as Rockville 2.8 WNW, Station ID MD-MG-115 and can be found on http://www.cocorahs.org .

Please remember that my Weather Underground precipitation data reflects what is recorded automatically through the tipping bucket VP2 gauge, just as it does on WxLink 2.0. The tipping bucket has been producing erratic values on most days (when I have had rain that is) so should not be used except for general precipitation timing.

I actually use the data I post to CoCoRaHS from my 4 inch CoCoRaHS gauge I read manually as my official precipitation total each day.

The pre-holiday preparations season has begun and, as usual, I am already way behind with a rapidly mounting activity list already in place. Marty was over for a visit on Wednesday afternoon to bring my new computer over and we spent a good bit of time trying to set it up. We ran into a problem with my email program that will require more work on another day. Many thanks to Marty for all his efforts on this, to me, herculean, complicated task. I had bratwurst on the grill on toast with chopped onion, pickles and horseradish mustard, along with left over baked potato and mediterranean vegetables. 

On Thursday, I slept in some and worked on email and personal matters. I ate the last of the bratwurst and steamed some green beans and baked the remaining tater tots along with some boiled zucchini in the water with the bratwurst. Before dinner we had our weekly trivia gathering next door, complete with pumpkin pie refreshments courtesy of Bess, our lovely moderator for the evening’s festivities.  

Friday looks like another cold one with more sunny skies, and quite possibly another sub-freezing max in the very low 30s and lows around 20.

Saturday should start to moderate the temperatures under partly cloudy skies, with highs around 40 and lows in the mid 20s.

Sunday should moderate some more, under partly cloudy skies, with highs in the mid 40s and lows around 30.

Next week through Christmas on Wednesday looks partly cloudy and mild, with high temps around 50 and lows in the low 30s. 

At Midnight Thursday, clear skies with a temperature of 24.5 degrees, relative humidity 68%, pressure falling at 30.41 inches with a dew point temperature of 15 degrees.

Currently at 0452 EST Friday the temperature is 22.4 degrees under clear, dry skies, relative humidity at 79%, barometric pressure rising at 30.45 inches, and the dew point temperature at 17 degrees. Winds are averaging 1 MPH over the past 10 minutes from the SSW. Peak wind gust since midnight has been 6 MPH from the SW at 0003.

Good morning from the walrus on this clear, calm, cold early Friday.