Very mild temperatures were in place as November began, but after just a few hours, an early winter feel would take hold for much of the month. Precipitation totals were below normal with less than average stormy weather.

Temperatures were in the mid-70s during the early morning hours of Nov. 1, but a cold front would sweep through, sending temperatures tumbling before the sun would rise. Colder than normal temperatures would then be the theme of the month.

Widespread chill that has been covering the Midwest throughout the fall spread eastward into the Northeast during November. Frequent pulses of polar air were aimed in our direction commanded by the jet stream.

A piece of the polar vortex cycled by at mid-month bringing a record cold high temperature of 28 degrees on Nov. 14. This represents the coldest high temperature so early in the season and the earliest that the high temperature failed to reach 30 degrees. The old record for the date was 30 degrees from 1942.

Twenty-one days during November were below normal, while nine were above normal. Daily temperature departures varied from 18 degrees above normal on Nov. 1 to 15 degrees below normal on Nov. 9 and 14.

The middle of the month was particularly cold with temperatures averaging 10 degrees below normal from Nov. 9-18. Nighttime temperatures fell into the teens for much of this period.

November’s average temperature of 37.0 degrees was 3.0 degrees below normal. November’s ranking was a tie as the 26th coldest out of 126 years. The high for the month was 73 degrees during the wee hours of Nov. 1, while the mercury fell to 14 degrees early on Nov. 14.

Precipitation was below normal during November due mostly to lower than normal storm frequency. More often than not, when cold air dominates, we see less storm activity because the jet stream’s position is further south, depressing the storm track.

A splash of mild showers to start the month was followed by pretty dry weather for the next three weeks. A wet pattern would take hold from Nov. 19-25, as milder air made a run at the region.

The month’s greatest daily precipitation total of 1.33 inches was measured on the morning of Nov. 25 following a developing coastal storm on Nov. 24.

The monthly precipitation total of 3.68 inches was 0.58 inches below normal. November ranked at No. 67 out of 136 years of precipitation records from driest to wettest. We saw the wettest November on record last year.

A few flakes of snow were noted on five different days during November. No measurable snow during November is not at all unusual. Nineteen years have had no snow, and 18 years have had a trace, as this year did.

The normal snowfall for November of 2.1 inches comes about from the average of extremes. Some years see several inches, while others see none. Last year, we saw 7.9 inches during November.

All normal weather parameters such as temperature, precipitation, snowfall, sunshine, wind, etc. are calculated in the same manner.

Extremes make up our weather, and the average of those extremes make up the normal values that meteorologists and climatologists use.

Normal weather is actually quite unusual and is notable itself. During a given year, only 5-10 days see an average temperature right at normal. The other 355-360 days are either above or below normal.

Official fall, the months of September, October and November saw near normal temperatures for the Gate City. The average temperature of 50.7 degrees was 0.3 degrees above normal.

September and October were modestly above normal, followed by below normal readings during November. Fall tied at No. 42 out of 125 years from warmest to coldest.

Fall saw less than normal precipitation. The total of 9.90 inches was 2.41 inches below normal. Fall 2019 ranked at No. 59 out of 135 years from driest to wettest.

Fall saw a trace of snowfall, all during November. A few flurries or very light snow was noted on several days during November. Thirty-six other falls have seen either no snow or just a trace.

Winter began with the largest early season snowfall and the third-largest December snowstorm on record for Nashua. Does this mean winter will be snowy? Weather is purely random, and a big snowfall early in the season is not a predictor of the winter to come.

A look at other years with large early season snowstorms shows completely differing outcomes. Some years were snowy, some not so snowy, and a couple that produced bookend snow storms like 1981-82. One thing that helps bolster the snowier idea is that we have already had 36% of the normal snowfall for a season, and winter just began.

What is known for certain is that there will be changeable weather all winter long.

Change is normal whether it be with our daily weather or long term climate.

The shortest days of the year come along in just a couple of weeks, and then we start to see a slow increase in day length by Christmas. A white Christmas has a 58% chance of occurring in Nashua, based on records dating back to the 1880s. Five of the past 10 Christmases have been white ones in Nashua.

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November Facts and Feats dating back to 1884

November 2019 average temperature: 37.0 degrees, 3.0 degrees below normal.

Mildest

45.8, 1999.

Coldest

32.8, 1904, 1901.

All-time November high

81, Nov. 3, 1950.

November 2019 high

73, Nov. 1.

All-time November low

7 below zero, Nov. 25, 1936.

November 2019 low

14, Nov. 14.

November 2019 precipitation

3.68 inches, 0.58 inches below normal.

Wettest November

9.74 inches, 2018

Driest November

0.63 inches, 1939

2019 Annual precipitation: 45.44 inches, 1.32 inches above normal.

November 2019 snowfall: Trace, 2.1 inches below normal.

Snowiest November: 1898, 17.5 inches.

2019-20 Seasonal snowfall: Trace, 2.1 inches below normal.

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