World and Nation

Return to seasonal temps

4488 weather
Situation for Noon Eastern Time, Tuesday, December 6, 2011

While the usual temperature range in Cambridge for this time of year is between 31°F and 45°F, yesterday we saw highs over 60°F, and today will reach a similar high. However, with a low pressure system moving over the region, precipitation will increase and temperatures will drop closer to average over the next few days.

A La Niña pattern, which is caused by cooling of the eastern Pacific Ocean, is expected to influence nationwide weather and precipitation for the second winter in a row. A 14-month drought in Texas has depleted the state’s aquifers to near-record low levels, and during La Niña the South will likely continue to receive below-average rainfall. At the same time, the Pacific Northwest can expect to receive increased precipitation. The pattern does not tend to influence weather in New England, although NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center predicts above-average precipitation for January–March 2012.