December's average temperature in Duluth was a full 7 degrees below normal, a huge departure that helped pull all of 2008 below normal for the Zenith City.
December's average temperature was just 7, when it should have been 14. Any departure more than a couple of degrees is considered large, but it was still only the 15th coldest December on record in Duluth. Coupled with the fifth snowiest December, however, the month proved a true return to good, old-fashioned winter.
International Falls earned its moniker as the nation's "Icebox'' in December with an average temperature of .3 degrees below zero, when it should have been 8.5 degrees above zero.
Duluth's average annual temperature came in at 37.9 in 2008, about a degree off the 30-year average temperature of 39.1, according to the National Weather Service in Duluth. Five months had above average temps while seven were below normal.
Globally, 2008 was the coolest year since 2000. But it certainly wasn't cold. NASA's Goddard Institute reported than 2008 was still the ninth-warmest year since accurate records have been kept beginning in 1880. Nine of the 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1998.
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Don't expect any quick warmup for 2009. The National Weather Service forecast calls for a couple of average days followed by more below normal temperatures into next week.
