Climate Impacts - February 1997
More Warm Weather
February 1997 featured a continuation of the winter's warm weather.
The month averaged 5.4 degrees warmer than normal, making it the Northeast's
11th warmest February in 103 years of record. It was the 2nd warmest on record
in Connecticut (7.7 degrees warmer than normal) and New Jersey (6.9 degrees
warmer than normal) and the 4th warmest in Rhode Island (6.2 degrees warmer
than normal). Maine had the region's smallest departure at 1.3 degrees above
the long-term mean. Several locations in New York reported their warmest
temperature ever recorded in the month of February on the 21st or 27th. The
winter season (December through February) was the 11th warmest winter on record
in the Northeast with a departure from normal of +4.2 degrees.
February Temperature Departure Map
For the first month since December 1995, every state in the Northeast reported
precipitation totals that averaged drier than normal. Overall, the 12 state
region received 81% of the normal February precipitation amount, to rank as the
23rd driest February on record. Southern New England received about half their
normal allotment, while New York came very close to normal at 99%. Winter
precipitation (rain plus melted snow), meanwhile, was somewhat wetter than
normal at 112% of the thirty-year average. It was the 13th wettest winter in
New Jersey with 132% of normal, but the 8th driest in West Virginia (73% of
normal).
February Percent of Normal Precipitation Map
Significant Weather Events
A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain made for
tricky driving from West Virginia to Maine on the 4th and 5th. Storm totals
were in the 4 to 8 inch range in western Pennsylvania; northern West Virginia;
western Maryland; northern New York; northeastern Vermont and in the mountains
of New Hampshire and Maine.
Winter storm warnings were issued on the 8th for eastern West Virginia,
southern New Jersey, Delaware, and most of Maryland. Snowfall totals were
greatest in the southeastern parts of the region. Washington, DC had 4 inches;
Baltimore received 8 inches; southeastern Pennsylvania saw up to 7 inches and
southern New Jersey and Delaware ended up with 4 to 6 inches of the white
stuff.
Another wintry mix fell over parts of the region on the 14th. Several locations
in northern West Virginia reported at least 1/2 inch of ice accumulation. In
western and northern Maryland, roads were slickened by light freezing rain and
sleet. Two to 5 inches of snow fell over western, central and northeastern
Pennsylvania, the northern panhandle of West Virginia and northwest New Jersey
before changing to sleet and freezing rain. Parts of Maine and New Hampshire
reported 2 to 6 inches snow, sleet and freezing rain.
Winds during the passage of a cold front on the 21st and 22nd gusted as high as
72 mph, resulting in numerous reports of wind damage. Windows were blown out of
downtown buildings in Rochester, NY. Homes or vehicles were damaged in
Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties, PA; Clinton, Lewis and Monroe Counties,
NY; and Addison County, VT. Power lines and trees were downed in Bradford,
Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland Counties, PA;
Erie, Lewis, Monroe, Wayne and Orleans Counties, NY; Bergen County, NJ; and
Hampden County, MA. Small hail fell on Middlesex and Worcester Counties, MA and
Penobscot County, ME. One fatality resulted when a tree fell on a car in Monroe
County, NY. Warm temperatures ahead of the front resulted in ice jam flooding
as runoff from meltwater filled streams and rivers. Roads were blocked by ice
flows in Essex County, NY and field flooding was reported in Lamoille County,
VT. Mudslides closed roads in Windsor County, VT.
Gusty wind conditions occurred again on the 27th as another strong cold front
passed through the region. Buildings were damaged in Allegheny, Somerset,
Westmoreland and Warren Counties, PA; and Cattaraugus and Orleans Counties, NY.
Trees and power lines were downed in Allegheny, Armstrong, McKean, Cambria,
Greene and Westmoreland Counties, PA and Garrett County, MD.
Ice jam flooding along the river channel in Dolgeville, NY on the 28th backed
up water into the cellars of nearby buildings. Flooding ended late in the day
when the jam broke up.
Water Resources
Central New England
Streamflow was above normal in central Massachusetts and in the
Winooski River Valley in Vermont. Flow was normal elsewhere in the region.
Groundwater levels were normal in northern Rhode Island, eastern and
northwestern Massachusetts, western Vermont and central New Hampshire. The
remaining areas were in the above normal range, except for a small area in
southwestern Vermont, which was below normal. Month-end contents of the major
reservoirs were near or above normal.
New York
Streamflow was in the excessive range in the Hudson River at
Hadley, the West Branch Oswegatchie River near Harrisville, the Genesee River
at Wellsville and Tonawanda Creek at Batavia. Flow was in the average range on
the Susquehanna River at Conklin and the Chemung River at Chemung. A few sites
were not included due to ice conditions. Storage in the state's lakes and
reservoirs was above normal. The New York City reservoir system was at 96.8% of
capacity. Normal is 83.4%.
Maryland and Delaware
Streamflow was in the normal range throughout the bi-state
area. Groundwater levels were above normal in west central, central and eastern
Maryland and were below normal in western Maryland. Contents of the reservoir
system were 113% of average.
Maine
Streamflow was in the normal range statewide. Groundwater
levels were above normal in southwestern Maine and normal elsewhere. Storage in
the six reporting basins was 50% of capacity. Normal is 44%.
New Jersey
Groundwater levels were below normal at the Bird and Morrell
wells and above normal at the Lebanon well. Streamflow was normal at High
Bridge, above normal at the Folsom index station and just below normal at
Trenton. Reservoir storage was 97% of capacity.
Connecticut
Groundwater levels were in the normal to above normal range at
all sites monitored. Streamflow was in the normal range throughout the state.
Reservoir contents were near or above normal.
20-March-1997
Keith L. Eggleston (kle1@cornell.edu) and
Kathy Vreeland (kv14@cornell.edu)
