New Brunswick, N.J. (April 10, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick climatologist David A. Robinson is available for interviews on the unusually mild March weather in New Jersey and the second warmest start of any year since record-keeping began in 1895.

March 2020 was the sixth mildest on record in New Jersey, according to a report by Robinson,  New Jersey State Climatologist and a distinguished professor in the Department of Geography in the School of Arts and Sciences. Moreover, the first quarter of 2020 was the second-warmest start on record partly because it was also mild in January (ninth warmest) and February (fourth warmest). The 40.8-degree average for the quarter (second to 41.4 degrees in 2012) was 5.8 degrees above the 1981 to 2010 average.

March averaged 46.3 degrees in New Jersey – 5.5 degrees above average. Because of the premature warmth, the greening up of vegetation across the state was at least two weeks earlier than normal, according to Robinson’s report.

Temperatures in 11 of the last 12 months have averaged above normal across New Jersey, and the last 12 month-period ranks as the third warmest April to March stretch since 1895, the report says.

“This is just another example of the warmth New Jersey has experienced this century compared with the previous one, and the overall trend is due, in large measure, to the impacts of humans on the climate system,” Robinson said.

Meanwhile, it appears that this will be New Jersey’s third least snowy season since records commenced in 1895, he said. The snow season can begin in October and run through March or into April.

“While the next week or two are expected to average on the cooler than normal side, it is anticipated that upcoming months well into the summer are expected to have above average temperatures overall – again characteristic of recent years,” he added.

The full report is on the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist and Rutgers NJ Weather Network websites.



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