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Northeast Regional Climate Center |
The Northeast was very close to normal in terms of temperature this February. While southern portions of the region were at or slightly below normal this month, the New England states saw a more significant positive temperature departure. Overall, the land-area weighted regional average was 26.0 degrees, or 0.5 degrees above normal. While not a very impressive temperature departure, this month was 4.5 degrees warmer than February 2003. All six New England states were above normal, and all of these except Vermont were more than 1 degree above normal. The general weather pattern this February brought storm systems northward over the Appalachains rather than over the coast, keeping New England on the warm side of the storms. This western storm trend also prevented any deep or prolonged cold snaps from taking hold in the northern states which could potentially have dropped the average temperatures down a notch. New Jersey was the only other state above normal this month, and the remaining 5 states were all within 0.5 degrees of their respective averages. Whether warmer or colder than normal, February temperatures in all 12 states were a welcome change after a bitterly cold January. Many states in the region saw a temperature increase of over 10 degrees from last month to this month. In fact, the region as a whole was 8.7 degrees warmer in February than in January.
One trend that did continue from January was the lack of precipitation across the Northeast (rain and water equivalent of snow). The region's measure of 1.97 inches makes February 2004 the driest since 1991. Rain and snow from two storms early in the month was followed by 20 days of no significant precipitation. High pressure was dominant during this time and the majority of the region received less than 1/2 an inch of rain/melted snow. Large portions of the region didn't see even a quarter of an inch after the 8th of February. This dry period was more extreme in the region's southern states, but early rains in that area seemed to cover for the future lack. Northern states were the most dry overall. Of six states in the region falling more than an inch short of their normal amounts, five were in New England (the sixth was Delaware). New Hampshire and Vermont both totaled less than an inch and a half on the month which was enough to put 2004 among the ten driest on record for both states. West Virginia was the most wet state in the region at 2.98 inches but still failed to reach its average value (precipitation departure: -.13 inches). This February was the first month since January 2003 in which all 12 states in the Northeast were on the dry side of their respective normals. A precipitation total of 1.97 inches is the lowest of any month since November 2001.
Monthly Summary of State Temperature and Precipitation Averages.
