Has it been a little too cold for comfort this winter? Meteorologists say the nation endured one of the coldest Decembers since the start of national records in 1895.

Despite the warmth DeKalb felt in early November, the two-month span of November and December broke the coldest national average temperature within the United States. The old record of 34.2 degrees Fahrenheit fell when the U.S. average was recorded at 33.8 F. Just prior to the plunge, the nation experienced the warmest 10-month period in history from January to October.

NIU staff meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste said the lack of an El Nino or La Nina can be blamed for the unusually frigid air. In the past decade, those weather patterns have been responsible for some of the warmest winters in recent memory.

“El Ninos and La Ninas usher in far milder temperatures than average,” Sebenste said. “Without either in effect this winter, arctic air has been free to move southward, causing the continual, below-average readings.”

El Ninos and La Ninas typically occur around the end of December and last through March. During this time, trade winds from the Pacific Ocean blow eastward, carrying with them tropical currents that create winter warmth. The effects, however, can linger on for a much longer period of time.

“I don’t believe that global warming is the primary cause when describing the above-average weather,” Sebenste noted. “The weather had been so warm because of an unusually strong, three-year period of El Ninos and La Ninas.”

He added that New England states have not seen prolonged below-average temperatures because those states normally are the coldest in the U.S., regardless of any weather phenomenon.

Florida has suffered the most damage from the cold pattern with countless numbers of record lows, including in Tallahassee, where a high of only 18 degrees was recorded earlier this month. Fruit crops are dying across the state, and Sebenste predicts many fruits, including strawberries, will cost significantly more in the coming weeks.

When will the big freeze finally end?

Not soon. Retired NIU meteorologist Allen Staver said more cold and snow is on its way during January and beyond.

The weather in DeKalb for the next few days will be on par for January.

“In the upcoming days, the weather will return to normal, which is cold,” Staver said.

During this week’s temporary warm-up, many residents have been disappointed with the slow melting of what has amounted to about one foot of snow. Staver said slightly above-freezing temperatures, even with sunshine from dawn until dusk, will not effectively melt all the snow.

Warm spells that often occur during winter, with daily highs in the 40s and 50s, shouldn’t be expected anytime in the near future, the meteorologists said.