Given the current rather uninspiring model output I thought I would look at past Decembers pressure patterns,specifically for the Xamas bridge period from Dec 20th to Dec 31st.I;ve looked at 70 years from 1944-2013.In the 12 days from Dec20th Using NCEp reanalysis and Wetterzentrale archives sought to identify spells circulation with a minimum of 3 days duration and with airflow northerly,north easterly or easterly.
They will usually be cold weather related spells and I've commented where the periods are of particular significanceHopefully you will have your own memories of some of these.
Each year with a cold set up has the dates of the spell and the rough wind directions.
1948 22-24 E
1950 23-28 E
1952 28-30 NE
1960 20-23 N
1961 20-31 N/E/NE A cold spell running trough to Jan 03.
1962 22-31 ENE/E The big one the start of the great winter of 62/63.I thought that this was going to be the norm...
1963 20-24 N/E/NE
1964 23-25 NE
1965 26-29 NE
1967 29-31 N
1968 26-31 NE.In central Europe the following winter was the coldest of the century.
1969 28-31 E
1970 23-31 N/E/NE
1971 27-31 E
1972 20-23 E
1976 25-28 E/NE
1978 28-31 E The precursor to the very cold winter of 78/79
1981 22-27 E Part of the very cold December of 1981
1984 29-31 E The introduction to the very cold January of 1985.
1985 26-29 NE
1986 22-26 N
1989 29-31 E
1992 23-28 E
1995 25-27 NE
1996 20-31 E a very cold spell covering the entire 12 day xmas period and lasting into early Jan.
2000 23-30 E/NE/N
2005 27-29 E
2008 26-30 E Followed by cold snowy Jan
2009 29-31 E Cold winter followed
2010 20-24 NE .The tail end of the great late November to late December bitter snowy spell!