WINTER 2020-21

Weather in Historical Perspective
Kearny, NJ

WINTER 2020-21:  December’s temperature averaged 38.1°F and near normal only (+0.4°F).  The month ranked as the 14^th warmest such month on record (since 1977) and the warmest since 2019.  The month was also the 3^rd consecutive such month with above normal temperatures.  Fourteen days in the month averaged near or below normal.  There was only 1 day with maximums below 32°F or lower.  There were 18 days with minimums of 32°F or lower.  Temperature extremes included 63°F on the 13^th and 19°F on the 19^th.

January’s temperature averaged 34.5°F and was2.8°F above normal.  The month ranked as the 11^th warmest such month on record (since 1977) and the warmest since 1989.  The month was also the 3^rd consecutive such month with above normal temperatures.  Only 8 days averaged below normal and occurred during the last half of the month.  There were 18 days above 40°F and 2 days with maximums above 50°F.  There were 2 days with maximums below 32°F or lower.  There were 22 days with minimums of 32°F or lower.  Temperature extremes included 54°F on the 2^nd and 15°F on the 29^th.

February’s temperature averaged 33.3°F and was 0.8°F below normal.  The month ranked as the 12^th coldest such month on record (since 1977) and the coldest since 1987.  Only 9 days averaged above normal with most occurring in the last 6 days of the month.  There were 5 days with maximums of 32°F or lower and 22 days with minimum of 32°F or lower.  12 days of maximums of 40°F or higher.  Temperature extremes included 57°F on the 20^th and 14°F on the 8^th.

The temperature for the season averaged 35.3°F and ranked as the 12^th warmest such season ob record and the warmest since 2007-08.  The 2020-21 season was also the 5^th consecutive such season with above normal temperatures.

Precipitation in December totaled 4.35 inches and was .39 on an inch above normal (111%).  The month ranked as the 21^st such month with above normal precipitation and the wettest since 1986.  Measurable precipitation fell on 11 days of the month.  The most received in a 24-hour period was 1.34 inches on the 24^th-25^th.  Snowfall was above normal with 10.8 inches (204%) and is the most snow to fall in December since 2002.  The month was also the 6^th snowiest such month on record.

Precipitation totaled 2.70 inches in January and was .39 on an inch above normal (76%).  The month ranked as the 14^th such month with above normal precipitation and the driest since 2003.  Measurable precipitation fell on 9 days of the month.  The most received in a 24-hour period was 1.49 inches on the 15^th-16^th.  Snowfall was below normal with only 2.3 inches (normal is 10.0 inches).  The month ties with January 1993 as the 10^th least snowiest such month on record.  The month was also the 4^th consecutive such month with below normal snowfall.  The most received in a 24-hour period was 1.5 inches on the 31^st.

Precipitation in February totaled 4.42 inches and was .1.66 inches above normal (160%).  The month ranked as the 12^th such month with above normal precipitation and the wettest since 1994.  Measurable precipitation fell on 14 days of the month.  The most received in a 24-hour period was 1.15 inches on the 1^st.  Snowfall was above normal with 33.1 inches (325%). The ranked as the 2^nd snowiest such month with above normal snowfall and the snowiest since 2014.  The most received in a 24-hour period was 17.5 inches on the 1^st.  The snowfall was also the 5^th largest February snowfall on record.  There were only 5 clear days and 15 overcast days.

Precipitation for the season totaled 4.42 inches and ranked as the 12^th wettest such season on record and the wettest since 1994.  The period Jan-Feb and total of 7.12 inches fell and tied with 2019 as the 28^th wettest such period and the 3^rd consecutive such period with above normal precipitation.

Snowfall was above normal and the season ranked as the 6^th snowiest such period on record and the snowiest since the 1977-78 season.