Tag Archives: winter

Revised Numbers Show January 2016 Blizzard was a Record Breaker in NYC

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After further review, it turns out that the Blizzard of January 2016 – also known as Winter Storm Jonas – was a record breaker for New York City.

According to the NWS, the storm dumped 27.5 inches of snow in Central Park and not the previously reported 26.8 inches. That makes it the city’s biggest snowstorm on record. The previous reading was a tenth of an inch shy of the now old record that was set in February 2006.

The error was found during an investigation launched in the wake of the historic storm. Snow measurement techniques at eight different sights along the east coast were questioned, as storm totals seemed too high in some places and too low in others. In a statement, NWS Director, Louis Uccellini, said, “Snow measurements are extremely difficult to take because precipitation is inherently variable, a problem compounded by strong winds and compaction during a long duration event.”

In NYC, the mistake stemmed from a communication issue rather than a problem with measurement technique. The Central Park Conservancy, the group responsible for measuring snowfall in Central Park, called their numbers into the NWS office by phone and one of the measurements was written down incorrectly.

In the grand scheme of this massive storm, an extra 0.7 inches of snow may not sound like a lot, but every fraction counts when it comes to records.

Blizzard 2016, NYC. Credit: Melissa Fleming

New Yorkers enjoy the record 27.5 inches of snow dumped on the city by the Blizzard of 2016. Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park, NYC. Credit: Melissa Fleming

When to Expect the Final Freeze of Spring

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Most people often associate spring with flowers and mild weather. But as a transitional season, it can also produce some serious cold spells. Wearing shorts one day and a parka the next, you start to wonder when the cold will finally fade away.

The answer to that question largely depends on where you live. Below is a map from NOAA that shows the typical final freeze dates across the continental US. While actual weather conditions vary from year to year, the dates shown are based on climatology – a thirty-year average of temperature data.

Here in New York City, our last spring freeze usually comes in mid-April.

Credit: NOAA

Credit: NOAA

Dramatic Temperature Swing brings NYC Another Bout of Winter

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With unseasonably warm temperatures causing trees and flowers to bloom early across New York City, it has felt like spring here for more than a few weeks. But now, as April begins, winter has come fighting back for an encore performance.

The high temperature in Central Park on Friday was a balmy 79°F.  Today, it was only 45°F and even colder conditions are expected as the week goes on. So, what’s causing this dramatic cool down? The answer lies in the changeable pattern of the jet stream.

A persistent area of high pressure had been sitting off the eastern seaboard recently, creating a ridge in the jet stream and blocking any cold air from moving southward. Now, the pattern has shifted and a trough in the jet stream is allowing cold air to spill out of Canada and across the northeast.

The first wave of chilly air moved through on Sunday and caused powerful winds to whip through the area. The NWS reported winds gusts of 45 mph in Central Park and 64 mph at JFK airport.

Another wave of arctic air is expected tonight. With the temperature projected to plummet into the 20’s, the NWS has issued a freeze warning for the city and surrounding area – bad news for all the early blooming plants and trees. The forecast high for Tuesday is only 39°F. The city’s normal high for this time of year is 57°F and the normal low is 41°F.

As spring is a transitional season, temperature swings between warm and cold are not uncommon. But, after the city’s second warmest winter and fourth warmest March on record, many folks are finding this spring cold snap more than bit jarring.

Another Record Warm Day for NYC

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Today was another record warm day in New York City. The temperature soared to 79°F in Central Park, which is a staggering 31°F above average. The old record of 74°F was set in 2006.

These late spring-like temperatures have brought many New Yorkers out of their winter hibernation. People are wearing shorts and dining alfresco at sidewalk cafes across the city. But, it is still March – a month known for changeable weather patterns in the northeast.

Looking ahead, above average temperatures are expected to stay in place for a while. That said, the long-term outlook for the month is forecasting a few shots of cold air returning to the area during the second half of the month. So, get out and enjoy the warm weather, but don’t put those sweaters and coats away just yet.

A Spring Preview in NYC

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The calendar says March, but it felt more like May in New York City today.

The temperature in Central Park soared to 77°F, setting a new record high for the date. It crushed the old record of 69°F that was set in 2000.

The last time the city saw a temperature in the 70s, oddly enough, was on Christmas Eve. But, that tells you how warm this winter has been. Last year, the first 70°F reading did not show up until April 15th. Our normal high for this time of year is 47°F.

Another record could fall on Thursday if the temperature climbs above 74°F. The forecast high is 76°F.

The primary driver of this unseasonable warmth is El Niño. Acting with global warming as a backdrop, it has produced a large ridge in the jet stream over the eastern part of the country that is allowing warm air from the south to flow further north than it normally would in early March.

Cooler conditions are expected to return by the weekend, but temperatures will still be above average for this point in the season.

Winter 2015-16: Warmest Winter on Record in Contiguous US

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Its official!  Winter 2015-2016 was the warmest ever recorded in the continental US.

The average temperature of the lower 48 states this meteorological winter (Dec-Feb), according to NOAA’s National Centers of Environmental Information, was 36.8°F. That is a whopping 4.6°F above the 20th century average and surpasses the previous record of 36.5°F that was set in the winter of 1999-2000. The considerable warmth in both December 2015 (warmest December on record) and February 2016 (7th warmest February on record) helped boost the season’s overall average.

Across the country, 46 states posted above average seasonal temperatures and no state was cooler than normal. In New England, it was particularly warm with all six states in the region reporting record high temperatures. Alaska – considered separately from the lower 48 by NOAA – saw its second warmest winter on record.

This exceptional warmth, scientists say, was driven by strong El Niño conditions in the Pacific acting on top of continued global warming.

Weather records for the contiguous United States date back to 1895.

Credit: NOAA

Credit: NOAA

Snow had to be Shipped by Rail for Start of Iditarod in Anchorage

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When most of us think of winter in Alaska, we think of cold and snowy conditions. But that has not been the case in Anchorage this year, where organizers of the famous Iditarod Dog Sled Race had to ship in snow for the start of the event this weekend.

The frosty cargo was transported by rail from northern parts of the state, some 300 miles away. But, even with this borrowed snow, the ceremonial starting leg of the race had to be shortened from the usual eleven miles to three.

In a typical winter season, the city of Anchorage sees 60 inches of snow. This year, they only had 26.6 inches and their current snow depth is zero. It is also interesting to note that NYC received more snow than Anchorage this winter.

Meteorologists attribute this unseasonably warm winter and its dearth of snow to a persistent ridge of high pressure that sat over the state for most of January and February. In fact, this past February was the fourth warmest February on record in Anchorage.

While warm winters can occasionally occur, this is the third year in a row that a lack of snow disrupted the Iditarod. Last year, the start of the race had to be moved over 225 miles north to Fairbanks. In 2014, large parts of the long trail had no snow cover at all and many participants were injured.

Ending in Nome, AK, the annual race spans 1000 miles of arctic tundra and commemorates the journey made by dogsledders in 1925 to deliver medical supplies for a diphtheria outbreak in that city.

Alaska Railroad ship snow from Fairbanks to Anchorage for Iditarod. Credit: ADN

Alaska Railroad ships snow from Fairbanks to Anchorage for Iditarod. Credit: ADN

NYC Seasonal Summary: Winter 2015-16

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The spring equinox is still a few weeks away, but meteorological winter (December, January, and February) has officially come to a close and it was the second warmest on record in New York City.

According to the NWS, the city’s average temperature for the season was 40.98°F. That is a staggering 5.9°F above normal. Only the winter of 2001-2002, with an average temperature of 41.5°F, was warmer.

Even though most of the winter felt like we were riding a temperature rollercoaster – from a record warm Christmas to a record cold Valentine’s Day – the warmth won out in the end. We had 40 days where the temperature reached 50°F or higher and every month of the season posted an above average reading. In fact, December 2015 was a staggering 13.3°F above normal and was the city’s warmest December on record.

In terms of snowfall, the city measured 31.2 inches in Central Park, which is 10.2 inches above average. Of this impressive total, 26.8 inches fell during the Blizzard of 2016 at the end of January. Without that storm, the city would have only had 4.4 inches of snow for the entire season.

For the past two winters, multiple extended artic outbreaks courtesy of the polar vortex kept the region colder than average. This year, a strong El Niño in the Pacific helped warmer than normal conditions dominate most of the season in the northeast.

National Weather Service records for Central Park date back to 1873.

Winter of 2015-16 brought NYC a rollercoaster of temperatures, but the warmth won out. It was the city's 2nd warmest winter on record. Credit: The Weather Gamut

Winter of 2015-16 brought NYC a rollercoaster of temperatures, but the warmth won out. It was the city’s 2nd warmest winter on record. Credit: The Weather Gamut

NYC Monthly Weather Summary: February 2016

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February 2016 felt like a weather rollercoaster in New York City. The month brought us both a record low of -1°F on Valentine’s Day and our first 60°F temperature of the year. But, in the end, with 14 out of 29 days posting above average readings, the warmth won out. The city’s mean temperature for the month was 37.7°F, which is 2.4°F above normal.

February is usually the snowiest month on the calendar for NYC, producing 9.2 inches of snow on average. But with mild conditions dominating the month this year, only 4 inches were measured in Central Park.

Rainfall, on the other hand, was abundant. The city received 4.4 inches, which is 1.31 inches above average. The majority of this total fell during a few separate heavy rain events, which seem to be getting more common in our region.

NYC saw a rollercoaster of temperatures this February. Credit: The Weather Gamut.

NYC saw a rollercoaster of temperatures this February. Credit: The Weather Gamut.

Weather Whiplash for NYC

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In any given winter season, a few cold snaps and an occasional warm spell are not that uncommon. This year, however, the temperatures in the northeastern US have been swinging from warm to cold to warm again as if on relentless rollercoaster. This week the region saw another round of this type of weather whiplash, albeit more dramatic than usual.

Here in New York City, the temperature went from a record low of -1°F on Sunday to a high of 54°F on Tuesday. That is a 55° difference in just two days. Our normal high for this time of year is 42°F and our normal low is 29°F.

For the past two winters, multiple extended artic outbreaks courtesy of the polar vortex kept the region colder than average for most of the season. This year, with a strong El Niño in place over the Pacific, warmer than normal conditions have made a strong showing. But, it seems like neither El Niño nor the Polar Vortex has been able to maintain a leading role this winter in the northeast. Rather, they seem to be alternating their appearances leaving us somewhat uncertain as to what will come next.

Dramatic Temperature Swing in NYC this week. Credit: The Weather Gamut

Dramatic Temperature Swing in NYC this week. Credit: The Weather Gamut