Warmest NE winter in 103 years

FOR RELEASE: March 17, 1998

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Northeast enjoyed its third warmest winter in 103 years of records -- even Buffalo shuffled off winter

NEWS FROM THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER

ITHACA, N.Y. -- If you shuffled off to Buffalo, N.Y., in February, you need not have shoveled much snow. Not since 1890 has Buffalo survived winter so easily, with only 1.8 inches of snow during the month, breaking the 108-year-old record by 0.4 of an inch. And in Portland, Maine, this was the first winter in six decades in which the temperature did not drop to zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Many other records fell during the month as the Northeast enjoyed its third warmest winter (December through February) and its third warmest February since official record-keeping began in 1895, according to Keith Eggleston, a climatologist with the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University. The monthly average temperature of 31.9 degrees Fahrenheit was 7.6 degrees warmer than the normal average of 24.3 degrees. Only twice, in 1954 and 1984, has February been warmer.

It was the warmest February on record in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, says Eggleston.

During the Northeast's exceptionally warm winter season, the average temperature of 30.4 degrees Fahrenheit for the three months was 5.9 degrees warmer than normal. Only two winters were warmer: 1948-49, with an average temperature of 30.5 degrees, and 1931-32, with a winter average of 32 degrees.

This was the warmest winter in 103 years in Connecticut, the second warmest in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, and the third warmest in New York and New Hampshire.

February marked the second consecutive month that was wetter-than-normal (based on a 30-year average) in the Northeast. The February precipitation total of 3.35 inches represented 125 percent of normal and was the wettest February since 1984. Rhode Island, with 157 percent of normal, was the wettest state in the twelve-state region. New Hampshire was the only state to report a slight drop in monthly precipitation, with 95 percent of normal.

The Northeast's winter average precipitation of 10.91 inches was 123 percent of normal and the 17th wettest winter on record. But the precipitation did not translate into excessive amounts of snow, with Washington, D.C., being free of snow during February for only the 16th time in the last 128 years.

New Weather Records

Highest February Average Temperature Records (degrees F)
City New Previous
Buffalo, N.Y. 34.1 33.8 in 1984
Allentown, Pa. 38.6 36.8 in 1954
Atlantic City Marina, N.J. 43.0 42.0 in 1976
Newark, N.J. (tie) 40.8 40.8 in 1984
Williamsport, Pa. 37.0 36.1 in 1954
Highest Winter (Dec.-Feb.) Average Temperature Records (degrees F)
City New Previous
Portland, Maine 29.2 29.0 in 1990-91
Binghamton, N.Y. 29.9 29.0 in 1982-83
Least February Snowfall Record (inches)
City New Previous
Buffalo, N.Y. 1.8 2.2 in 1890
Washington, D.C. (tie) 0.0 15 other years
Daily Maximum Temperature Records (degrees F)
City Date New Previous
Binghamton, N.Y. 10th 50 49 in 1955
Bridgeport, Conn 12th 52 48 in 1984
Burlington, Vt. (tie) 28th 49 49 in 1954
St. Johnsbury, Vt. (tie) 28th 54 54 in 1954
Daily Precipitation Records (inches)
City Date New Previous
National Airport ,Va. 4th 2.01 1.61 in 1932
Baltimore 4th 1.65 1.48 in 1920
Williamsport, Pa. 5th 0.68 0.36 in 1997
Buffalo, N.Y. 17th 1.18 1.10 in 1958
Central Park, N.Y. 17th 1.27 1.05 in 1884
Bridgeport, Conn 18th 1.03 0.95 in 1960
Williamsport, Pa. 18th 1.49 0.70 in 1956
Baltimore 23rd 1.56 1.21 in 1987
Near Records
City Description
Williamsport, Pa. 3rd wettest February on record
Syracuse, N.Y. 3rd wettest winter on record
Rochester, N.Y. 3rd warmest February on record
Philadelphia, Pa. 3rd warmest February on record
Atlantic City, N.J. 3rd warmest February on record
Wilmington, Del. 3rd warmest February on record
Buffalo, N.Y. 2nd warmest winter on record
Wilkes Barre/Scranton, Pa. 3rd warmest winter of record
Philadelphia 3rd warmest winter on record
Portland, Maine 1st winter in 60 years temp did not 
 drop to 0 deg. F

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