[norwaypinesavage]

As it has for many centuries, the amount of sunlight falling on the Northern Hemisphere has been at its smallest on December 21, the Winter Solstice. As with almost all heating, temperatures resulting from this, lag the heating source by a few days. In the US, that lag is 3 to 4 weeks. This makes the upcoming week, historically, the coldest week of the year. This weather should not surprise anyone.

There are thousands of temperature records in the US. They all hit their minimum in the middle of January.

[Red Badger]

Yes, and we were taught in school, in the 60's for me, that because of the Earth's slightly elliptical orbit, the Earth is actually closest to the Sun at the Winter Solstice when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun.

But due to the 'Precession of the Poles' and some other minor factors, like Earth wobbling on its axis, eventually, after 26000 years or so, the Northern Hemisphere will be tilted towards the Sun when the Earth is closest to it, and away from the Sun when it's furthest from it.

Then the Ice Age will be here ... again, as it has for multiple times in Earth's geologic history.