New Brunswick, N.J. (July 8, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick climatologist David A. Robinson is available for interviews on the dry, unusually warm June in New Jersey, the dry and very warm first six months of 2020 and the potential for drought to develop this summer.

The unusual June followed the first measurable May snow in the Garden State since 1977.

“Dry conditions continue to prevail across much of New Jersey as summer progresses. Statewide average precipitation in June was 3.1 inches – 0.91 inches below the 1981 to 2010 norm and ranking as the 43rd driest of the past 126 Junes,” said Robinson, New Jersey State Climatologist and a distinguished professor in the Department of Geography in the School of Arts and Sciences. “The first six months of 2020 ranked as the 22nd driest start since records commenced in 1895 – quite a change from the persistent wet conditions in recent years. While water resources remain in decent shape, it behooves everyone to remain especially mindful of their use of this precious resource.”

June was also quite warm: the 10th warmest in the past 126 years and the warmest since 2011, according to a report by Robinson. The 71.6-degree average temperature was 1.8 degrees above the 1981 to 2010 norm, and five of the 10 warmest Junes on record have occurred since 2000. The average temperature for the first half of 2020 was 50.3 degrees, which is 2.6 degrees above average and ties with 2010 and 2017 as the third warmest first six months on record. Four of the six months ranked among the 10 warmest since 1895, while April and May were below average.

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

Professor Robinson, who oversees the Rutgers NJ Weather Network and helps coordinate the New Jersey Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, is available to comment at [email protected]

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