This winter and spring's warm weather pattern continued through the month of April. Although the region didn't experience record-setting warmth during April, the month did average 2.2 degrees warmer than normal. This was 4.6 degrees warmer than last year and the warmest April since 1994. Connecticut was the northeast state that was closest to normal, with a monthly temperature departure that was 0.7 degrees warmer than the thirty-year average. Vermont, meanwhile, had the largest departure at 3.2 degrees warmer than normal (their 13th warmest April on record).
When combined with the three preceding months, the first third of 1998 was the warmest such period in 104 years of record in the Northeast. The region averaged 5.2 degrees warmer than normal for this four-month period. Seven states (CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, and VT) all reported their warmest January-April average temperature on record.
The month averaged slightly wetter than normal, although there were variations on both sides of the long-term averages. Vermont and New Hampshire were the driest states, with respect to normal, with 82% and 79% of normal, respectively. Pennsylvania and West Virginia each measured more than 5 inches of rain during the month, which represented 151% and 136% of normal, respectively. The area-weighted average for the Northeast this month was 3.89 inches (113% of normal).
The first third of 1998 was significantly wetter than normal. The region reported its 9th wettest January-April on record and was only about an inch and a half short of the all-time record of 17.29 inches set in 1936. The regional average of 15.71 inches represented 129% of normal.
Monthly Summary of State Temperature and Precipitation Averages.
Daily Precipitation Records (inches) City Date New Previous ---- ---- --- -------- Newark, NJ 1st 1.89 1.65 in 1993 Harrisburg, PA (tie) 10th 1.23 1.23 in 1980 Pittsburgh, PA 26th 1.50 1.00 in 1937 Harrisburg, PA 26th 1.50 1.09 in 1937 Minimum Temperature Record (degrees F) City Date New Previous ---- ---- --- -------- Binghamton, NY (tie) 27th 28 28 in 1993Least Snowiest Season Record
Only 0.1 inches of snow fell this season at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, DC. That ties 1972-73 as the least snowiest season ever in Washington.