WINTER 2019-20

Weather in Historical Perspective
Kearny, NJ

WINTER 2019-20: The pattern was dominated by a positive AO and NAO characterized by negative height anomalies across the high and northern latitudes. Heights were below normal ion the West and above normal in the East.  February was the warmest of the months with a monthly average of 39.4°F and was 3.4°F above normal.  The month ranked as the 7^th warmest such month on record (since 1977) and the warmest since 1984.  Only 6 days averaged below normal. January’s temperature averaged 38.6°F and was 6.9°F above normal.  The month ranked as the 4^th warmest such month on record and the warmest since 2006. 

The winter season temperature average 38.3°F and ranked as the warmest such season on record and the warmest since 2015-16.  The season the 5^th consecutive season with above normal temperatures. Temperature extremes included 69°F on Jan. 11^th and 12°F on Feb. 15.  There were only 3 days with maximums of 32°F or lower (normal 14).  There were only 51 days with minimums of 32°F and lower (normal is 65). 

Precipitation totaled 11.29 inches and ranked as the 17^th wettest such season on record and the wettest since 1986-87.  January was the driest month with 1.73 inches and was 1.83 inches below normal (49% of normal). The month ranked as the 8^th driest such month on record and the driest since 2017. The period Jan-Feb. precipitation totaled 4.45 inches and ranked as the 7^th driest such period on record since 2009. The period was also the 2^nd driest such period on record.  Snowfall was below normal with only 6.6 inches (normal is 25.5’).  The season ranked as the 7^th lest snowiest such season since 1988-89.  The season was also the 4^th consecutive such season with below normal snowfall.  February snowfall only measured a trace  (normal is 10.2”) and ties with1981, 1998 and 2002 as the least snowiest such month on record.  Measurable snowfall of an inch or more fell on 3 days (normal is 5).