109 New Northeast March Weather Records

FOR RELEASE: April 20, 1998

Contact: Blaine P. Friedlander, Jr. Office: (607) 255-3290 Internet: [email protected] Compuserve: Bill Steele, 72650,565 http://www.news.cornell.edu

ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Northeastern states saw 109 weather-related records smashed during March and 16 records tied, according to new statistics just released by the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University.

It was the warmest March on average in the Northeast since 1973, and the 14th warmest in 104 years of record-keeping.

"Many places broke records, and it is not just records for the day but records for the whole month of March," said Keith Eggleston, a senior climatologist at the center.

Due in large part to the record-breaking heat at the end of the month, the average temperature for March was 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the Northeast, which was 2.9 degrees warmer than the 30-year, normal average of 34.5 degrees.

Fourteen cities set high temperature records for March, while six more cities tied their previous highs for the month, according to statistics compiled by Jeffrey Schultz, a climatologist at the center. The mercury in Scranton, Pa., hit 85 degrees Fahrenheit on March 31, breaking a

93-year-old record high for the month, and in Albany, N.Y., the temperature reached 89 degrees to break a 12-year-old record. Also on March 31, Boston reached 89 degrees, breaking the 86-degree record for the month set on March 29, 1945. The high temperature in Hartford, Conn., on March 31 reached 89 degrees, breaking the 87-degree record for the month set on March 30, 1977.

Dozens of daily maximum temperatures fell during the last few days of March. By a mere three degrees, Pittsburgh broke a 123-year-old record for the month on March 31 when the mercury reached 82 degrees. Portland, Maine, broke a 17-year-old record for the month by a whopping 24 degrees on March 31, with an 88-degree mark. Danbury, Conn., reported a record high temperature for the month of 92 degrees on the March 31.

Vermont had the Northeast's largest average swing for March with a temperature 4.5 degrees warmer than the state's 30 year normal of 29.2 degrees. This was the state's 11th warmest March on record. West Virginia had the Northeast's smallest monthly rise, with a statewide average temperature that was 1.0 degree warmer than the normal average.

This news release is available at http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/April98/NRCC.March98.bpf.html, with a link to other Cornell news releases and photographs.

The area-weighted total precipitation for the Northeast in March was 3.71 inches, which was 115 percent of normal, which is 3.21 inches. Even so, the region was drier than during March in five of the previous seven years. West Virginia was the only state to have a preliminary state average rainfall -- 3.47 inches, or 93 percent of their normal -- that was slightly below normal. Connecticut reported the largest increase in precipitation, with 155 percent of normal. This was Connecticut's 11th wettest March since 1895.

New York City received 5 inches of snow on March 22, bringing the city's total to only 5.5 since November 1. But, nature reminded western New York state that it still snows in March. Rochester, N.Y., saw a record 8.2 inches on March 21. The previous record snowfall for that date in the Flour City was four inches set in 1932.

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New Weather Records

 Maximum Temperature Records for Month of March

City Date New Previous Milton, Mass. 28th 86∞ 85∞ on 3/29/1945 Allentown, Pa. 30th 87∞ 84∞ on 3/30/1977 Atlantic City AP, N.J. (tie) 30th 87∞ 87∞ on 3/29/1945 Harrisburg, Pa. 30th 87∞ 86∞ on 3/29/1945 Wilmington, Del. (tie) 30th 86∞ 86∞ on 3/21/1948 Albany, N.Y. 31st 89∞ 86∞ on 3/30/1986 Binghamton, N.Y. (tie) 31st 82∞ 82∞ on 3/30/1977 Boston, Mass. 31st 89∞ 86∞ on 3/29/1945 Burlington, Vt. (tie) 31st 84∞ 84∞ on 3/29/1946 Concord, N.H. 31st 89∞ 86∞ on 3/30/1977 Danbury, Conn. 31st 92∞ 80∞ on 3/30/1986 Hartford, Conn. 31st 89∞ 87∞ on 3/30/1977 Massena, N.Y. 31st 85∞ 82` on 3/30/1977 Montpelier, Vt. 31st 80∞ 77` on 3/29/1977 Central Park, N.Y. (tie) 31st 86∞ 86∞ on 3/29/1945 Portland, Maine 31st 88∞ 86∞ on 3/29/1946 St. Johnsbury, Vt. 31st 83∞ 82∞ on 3/29/1946 Scranton, Pa. 31st 85∞ 84∞ on 3/29/1905 Williamsport, Pa. 31st 87∞ 87∞ on 3/30/1986 Worcester, Mass. (tie) 31st 84∞ 84∞ on 3/29/1946

Daily Maximum Temperature Records

City Date New Previous Caribou, Maine 9th 47∞ 45∞ in 1962 Mount Washington, N.H. 9th 40∞ 39∞ in 1942 Portland, Maine 9th 52∞ 51∞ in 1973 Mount Washington, N.H. 10th 39∞ 36∞ in 1992 Portland, Maine (tie) 10th 58∞ 58∞ in 1977 Albany, N.Y. 27th 78∞ 73∞ in 1949 Allentown, Pa. 27th 83∞ 80∞ in 1949 Atlantic City AP, N.J. 27th 81∞ 78∞ in 1949 Beckley, W.Va. 27th 80∞ 79∞ in 1989 Milton, Mass. 27th 77∞ 76∞ in 1945 Boston 27th 79∞ 76∞ in 1945 Bridgeport, Conn. 27th 69∞ 68∞ in 1949 Concord, N.H. (tie) 27th 76∞ 73∞ in 1975 Erie, Pa. 27th 80∞ 76∞ in 1991 Harrisburg, Pa. 27th 85∞ 82∞ in 1921 Hartford, Conn. 27th 82∞ 76∞ in 1945 Central Park, N.Y. 27th 83∞ 75∞ in 1949 Newark, N.J. 27th 84∞ 78∞ in 1949 Portland, Maine 27th 74∞ 62∞ in 1993 Providence, R.I. 27th 81∞ 75∞ in 1945 Wilmington, Del. 27th 82∞ 80∞ in 1949 Binghamton, N.Y. 28th 78∞ 72∞ in 1989 Milton, Mass. 28th 86∞ 81∞ in 1989 Boston, Mass. 28th 85∞ 81∞ in 1989 Bridgeport, Conn. 28th 80∞ 74∞ in 1989 Buffalo, N.Y. (tie) 28th 77∞ 77∞ in 1945 Concord, N.H. 28th 86∞ 82∞ in 1945 Hartford, Conn. 28th 84∞ 83∞ in 1989 Massena, N.Y. 28th 78∞ 66∞ in 1961 Montpelier, Vt. 28th 72∞ 67∞ in 1985 Mount Washington, N.H. 28th 52∞ 46∞ in 1945 Portland, Maine 28th 75∞ 74∞ in 1989 Providence, R.I. 28th 83∞ 80∞ in 1989 Worcester, Mass. (tie) 28th 81∞ 81∞ in 1945 Atlantic City Marina, N.J. 29th 82∞ 76∞ in 1985 Beckley, W.Va. 29th 79∞ 77∞ in 1977 Allentown, Pa. 30th 87∞ 84∞ in 1977 Atlantic City AP, N.J. 30th 87∞ 81∞ in 1963 Baltimore 30th 89∞ 87∞ in 1979 Beckley, W.Va. 30th 81∞ 80∞ in 1985 Binghamton, N.Y. (tie) 30th 82∞ 82∞ in 1977 Buffalo, N.Y. (tie) 30th 76∞ 76∞ in 1977 Burlington, Vt. (tie) 30th 80∞ 80∞ in 1977 Charleston, W.Va. 30th 87∞ 85∞ in 1910 Elkins, W.Va. 30th 83∞ 80∞ in 1986 Erie, Pa. 30th 82∞ 79∞ in 1986 Harrisburg, Pa. 30th 87∞ 84∞ in 1977 Huntington, W.Va. (tie) 30th 85∞ 85∞ in 1910 Morgantown, W.Va. 30th 84∞ 82∞ in 1986 National Airport, Va. 30th 87∞ 86∞ in 1963 Central Park, N.Y. 30th 82∞ 79∞ in 1977 Newark, N.J. 30th 86∞ 84∞ in 1977 Parkersburg, W.Va. (tie) 30th 84∞ 84∞ in 1986 Philadelphia 30th 86∞ 85∞ in 1977 Pittsburgh (tie) 30th 82∞ 82∞ in 1986 Providence, R.I. 30th 79∞ 78∞ in 1977 Scranton, Pa. 30th 84∞ 83∞ in 1977 St. Johnsbury, Vt. 30th 79∞ 79∞ in 1977 Wilmington, Del. 30th 86∞ 84∞ in 1945 Albany, N.Y. 31st 89∞ 77∞ in 1968 Allentown, Pa. 31st 82∞ 80∞ in 1979 Baltimore 31st 86∞ 83∞ in 1979 Beckley, W.Va. 31st 81∞ 79∞ in 1986 Binghamton, N.Y. 31st 82∞ 72∞ in 1968 Boston 31st 89∞ 70∞ in 1981 Bridgeport, Conn. 31st 74∞ 73∞ in 1986 Burlington, Vt. 31st 84∞ 71∞ in 1949 Buffalo, N.Y. 31st 78∞ 75∞ in 1968 Charleston, W.Va. 31st 87∞ 86∞ in 1929 Concord, N.H. 31st 89∞ 68∞ in 1968 Danbury, Conn. 31st 92∞ 73∞ in 1979 Elkins, W.Va. 31st 83∞ 81∞ in 1986 Erie, Pa. 31st 82∞ 75∞ in 1986 Harrisburg, Pa. 31st 85∞ 83∞ in 1943 Hartford, Conn. 31st 89∞ 71∞ in 1986 Massena, N.Y. 31st 85∞ 67∞ in 1982 Montpelier, Vt. 31st 80∞ 68∞ in 1968 Central Park, N.Y. 31st 86∞ 75∞ in 1986 Newark, N.J. 31st 85∞ 76∞ in 1986 Pittsburgh 31st 82∞ 79∞ in 1875 Portland, Maine 31st 88∞ 64∞ in 1981 Providence, R.I. 31st 85∞ 75∞ in 1981 Rochester, N.Y. 31st 83∞ 78∞ in 1988 Scranton, Pa. 31st 85∞ 77∞ in 1986 St. Johnsbury, Vt. 31st 83∞ 67∞ in 1968 Syracuse, N.Y. 31st 85∞ 77∞ in 1968 Williamsport, Pa. 31st 87∞ 81∞ in 1943 Wilmington, Del. 31st 81∞ 80∞ in 1979 Worcester, Mass. 31st 84∞ 70∞ in 1918

Daily Minimum Temperature Records

City Date New Previous Beckley, W.Va. 12th 11∞ 13∞ in 1969 Atlantic City AP, N.J. 13th 16∞ 18∞ in 1960 Beckley, W.Va. 13th 8∞ 10∞ in 1969 Bridgeport, Conn. 13th 16∞ 19∞ in 1974 Montpelier, Vt. 13th -6∞ -4∞ in 1984 Mount Washington, N.H. 13th -25∞ -24∞ in 1992

Daily Precipitation Records (inches)

City Date New Previous Bridgeport, Conn. 9th 2.14 0.48 in 1995 Boston 9th 2.14 1.33 in 1942 Caribou, Maine 9th 1.18 0.98 in 1946 Hartford, Conn. 9th 2.40 1.74 in 1919 Central Park, N.Y. 9th 1.82 1.70 in 1893 Newark, N.J. 9th 1.13 0.82 in 1942 Providence, R.I. 9th 3.02 1.95 in 1942 Worcester, Mass. 9th 3.73 1.83 in 1942 Newark, N.J. 19th 1.40 1.27 in 1956 Bridgeport, Conn. 19th 1.56 1.46 in 1983

Daily Snowfall Record (inches)

City Date New Previous Rochester, N.Y. 21st 8.2 4.0 in 1932

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