The warmer than normal conditions that have dominated the temperature pattern during 1998 did not change during September. The area-weighted average temperature for the region was 2.5 degrees warmer than normal and the 16th warmest September in 104 years of record. West Virginia averaged 3.5 degrees warmer than normal, while New Hampshire recorded a departure that was 1 degree warmer than the thirty-year mean. For the first nine months of 1998, the Northeast has averaged 3.2 degrees warmer than normal and stands second to only 1921 (52.9) on the list of the Northeast's warmest January-September periods.
The September precipitation pattern was very similar to that of July and August. Precipitation was below normal in every state except Vermont. The area-weighted state average for Vermont was 3.92 inches, which was 113% of normal. Elsewhere, precipitation ranged between 46% of normal in Delaware and 80% of normal in Maine. The twelve-state region overall averaged 2.55 inches. This was 71% of normal and was the 23rd driest September on record.
Monthly Summary of State Temperature and Precipitation Averages.
Daily Precipitation Records (inches) City Date New Previous Boston, MA 22nd 1.88 1.65 in 1949 Maximum Temperature Records (degrees F) City Date New Previous Concord, NH 6th 91 90 in 1983 Binghamton, NY 6th 90 89 in 1983 Beckley, WV 6th 88 87 in 1990 Beckley, WV 12th 86 80 in 1990 Beckley, WV 13th 89 83 in 1993 Beckley, WV 14th 92 84 in 1993 Elkins, WV (tie) 14th 89 89 in 1915 Morgantown, WV 14th 95 90 in 1952 Parkersburg, WV (tie) 14th 95 95 in 1897 Beckley, WV 15th 87 86 in 1970 Erie, PA 26th 89 88 in 1908 Beckley, WV (tie) 26th 83 83 in 1970 Hartford, CT 27th 88 84 in 1920 Bridgeport, CT 27th 81 80 in 1972 National AP, DC 27th 93 92 in 1900 Wilmington, DE 27th 91 87 in 1933 Providence, RI 27th 86 85 in 1972 Boston, MA (tie) 27th 86 86 in 1933 Milton (Blue Hill Obs), MA 27th 84 82 in 1908 Baltimore, MD 27th 92 91 in 1933 Atlantic City AP, NJ 27th 93 87 in 1970 Atlantic City Marina, NJ 27th 85 81 in 1886 Newark, NJ 27th 91 89 in 1953 Albany, NY (tie) 27th 84 84 in 1920 Binghamton, NY 27th 80 76 in 1953 Allentown, PA 27th 88 87 in 1933 Harrisburg, PA 27th 91 88 in 1900 Philadelphia, PA 27th 91 90 in 1881 Beckley, WV (tie) 27th 81 81 in 1971 Atlantic City Marina, NJ 28th 84 83 in 1925 Minimum Temperature Record (degrees F) City Date New Previous Beckley, WV 10th 41 43 in 1981