Buresh Blog: Mild, somewhat wet Nov... 80-degree winter days... Dec./early Jan. night skies

Jacksonville, FL — November ended up mild & somewhat wet. “Somewhat” because almost all of the Nov. rain fell on a single day - Nov. 10th when Nicole moved across Florida. There were only 4 other days with measurable rain with the month ending up just a bit more than 1″ above average.

Our - Jacksonville - streak of at least one 80 degree day each month continues reaching nearly 7 years! Temps. were 80+ Tue. & Wed., Dec. 6-7 including a record-tying high of 83 degrees on the 7th (Dec. 7th, 2013).

Night skies into January (Sky & Telescope):

Dec. 7 (evening): The full Moon occults (briefly covers) Mars for much of North America.

Dec. 10 (evening): The waning gibbous Moon, Castor, and Pollux form a triangle as they rise in the northeast.

Dec. 14 (morning): The maximum of the Geminid meteor shower coincides with a waning gibbous Moon.

Dec. 18 (morning): The waning crescent Moon is 5° from Spica, Virgo’s brightest star, above the southeastern horizon.

Dec. 21 (night): Northern Hemisphere winter begins at the solstice at 4:48 p.m. EST (1:48 p.m. PST).

Dec. 24 (dusk): The Moon, Venus, and Mercury form a triangle just above the southwestern horizon near the horizon.

Dec. 26 (dusk): The thin waxing lunar crescent hangs around 5° left of Saturn high in the southwest.

Dec. 28, 29 (dusk): Mercury and Venus are less than 2° apart very low in the southwest after sunset.

Dec. 29 (evening): High in the southwest, the first-quarter Moon stands guard around 6½° above left of Jupiter

Dec. 31 (evening): The Moon is poised about halfway between Mars (in the east) and Jupiter (in the south).

Jan. 3 (evening): Look above Aldebaran, in Taurus, the Bull, to spot the Moon and Mars about 2½° apart.

Jan. 4: Earth is at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun for 2023, at a distance of 91,420,000 miles (147,099,000 km).

Jan. 4 (morning): The short-lived Quadrantid shower peaks, but the waxing gibbous Moon will interfere.

Moon Phases

Full Moon Dec. 7 11:08 p.m. EST (Cold Moon; Mars occulted for most of N. America)

Last Quarter Dec. 16 3:56 a.m. EST

New Moon Dec. 23 5:17 a.m. EST

First Quarter Dec. 29 8:21 p.m. EST

A really good time Tue., Dec. 6th as my wife & I had the honor of being a couple of the judges for Naval Station Mayport holiday lights. Lots of ships participating in what was a very fun & festive night! Thanks to all the sailors & their families for their dedication to our country.

Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh speaks to Capt. Brian Binder, Commanding Officer at NS Mayport Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh speaks to Capt. Brian Binder, Commanding Officer at NS Mayport

Action News Jax First Alert Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh judges Mayport Christmas light contest Action News Jax First Alert Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh judges Mayport Christmas light contest

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