January 2000 started out with unseasonably warm temperatures. The first week of the new year brought temperatures that reached into the 60's and even 70's to all but the normally cooler parts of New York and northern New England. Temperatures during the first two weeks of the month averaged about 8 to 10 degrees warmer than normal. This period of very warm weather persisted until mid-month, when it changed abruptly. Temperatures averaged about 8 to 10 degrees below normal for the second half of the month. A large portion of the region saw overnight temperatures drop below zero on one or more occasions. When computing the monthly average temperature, these two extremes cancelled each other out, leaving overall averages that were quite close to normal. The region had an average temperature of 22.1 degrees, which was exactly equal to the normal for the month. This was, however, 2.3 degrees cooler than last January and the first of any winter month that was not warmer than normal since January 1996. Monthly departures from around the region ranged from 1.2 degrees below normal in New Hampshire to 1.3 degrees warmer than normal in Pennsylvania.
Precipitation around the Northeast averaged 91% of normal during January. New York, Vermont and Maine were the only states to report excesses, with 111%, 131% and 115% of normal, respectively. Rhode Island reported the largest deficit with 44% of the state's long-term mean. Delaware and West Virginia also reported less than 60% of normal. This January, Northeast weather stations on the average measured 2 inches less precipitation than during January 1999.
Monthly Summary of State Temperature and Precipitation Averages.
Maximum Temperature Records (degrees F) City Date New Previous Atlantic City, NJ 2nd 66 63 in 1985 Erie, PA (tie) 2nd 61 61 in 1897 Harrisburg, PA 2nd 62 57 in 1950 Pittsburgh, PA (tie) 2nd 66 66 in 1890 Williamsport, PA 2nd 57 53 in 1979 Providence, RI (tie) 2nd 59 59 in 1979 Morgantown, WV 2nd 70 59 in 1966 Bridgeport, CT 3rd 60 53 in 1960 Hartford, CT 3rd 62 60 in 1913 National AP, DC 3rd 68 66 in 1997 Wilmington, DE 3rd 64 62 in 1997 Baltimore, MD 3rd 68 67 in 1997 Milton, MA 3rd 64 59 in 1998 Boston, MA 3rd 64 62 in 1913 Concord, NH 3rd 60 54 in 1998 Atlantic City, NJ 3rd 67 64 in 1964 Atlantic City Marina, NJ 3rd 59 58 in 1999 Newark, NJ (tie) 3rd 62 62 in 1998 Binghamton, NY 3rd 56 47 in 1992 Central Park, NY 3rd 63 62 in 1997 Philadelphia, PA 3rd 63 62 in 1913 Providence, RI 3rd 64 62 in 1998 Burlington, VT 3rd 55 52 in 1950 Baltimore, MD (tie) 4th 70 70 in 1950 Milton, MA 4th 60 59 in 1950 Binghamton, NY 4th 58 54 in 1993 Providence, RI (tie) 4th 61 61 in 1998 Portland, ME 10th 50 49 in 1946 Milton, MA 10th 54 52 in 1972 Boston, MA 10th 56 55 in 1972 Daily Precipitation Records (inches) City Date New Previous Newark, NJ 10th 0.89 0.82 in 1984 Daily Snowfall Records (inches) City Date New Previous National AP, DC 25th 9.3 6.0 in 1891 Baltimore, MD 25th 10.3 5.9 in 1905