Cool Graphic & How's Winter Work ?

Cool Graphic & How's Winter Work ?

The "longest night / shortest day" of the year is called the Winter Solstice (~ December 21st) signaling the "start of winter".    Yet for most of the United States, the average coldest time of the year follows weeks later.   This is similar to how the warmest time of the year occurs after the summer solstice across much of the U.S.  

But Why ? !!! 

While the sun is lowest in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, it takes multiple days or weeks to cool down the Earth's surface in order to make appreciable changes, and then for the air above it to cool. For that reason, there's a seasonal lag between the solstice and the typical coldest time of the year.

Check out this cool map showing the date when average temperatures (1981-2010) reach their annual minimum.   Yet if this is true, why does coldest time of year occur before or near the Winter Solstice in the Pacific Northwest ? ! ! !   ( Dang!   I thought we had this figured out ??? !!! )   

Ok, guess it's pretty basic... because anyone that has been to Seattle or Portland in November or December know these are the two wettest (and overcast) months.   So it decreases the Solar warming effect on the shortest days of the year.   Hmmn... that makes total sense... cool !!! 

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Thanks to the sources of this information !!!

https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/news/when-to-expect-coldest-day-of-year