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Pressure/Warmth Prevails as Drought Arrives: December/Annual 2024 Report
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 8:27pm
A truck splashes a puddle on Route 46 in Ridgefield Park (Bergen County) on December 9th, 2024. December helped ameliorate drought conditions, but not eliminate it. Photo by Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com
A truck splashes a puddle on Route 46 in Ridgefield Park (Bergen County) on December 9th, 2024. December helped ameliorate drought conditions, but not eliminate it. Photo by Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com

The theme of “pressure” was selected to define the last month of 2024. In an absolute sense, this refers to a mid-December period with the highest atmospheric pressure recorded in New Jersey in over 40 years. It can also be linked with pressure differentials over the course of the month that resulted in many windy days. In a relative sense, it refers to the need to recoup the substantial precipitation deficit for the second half of the year in hopes that water resources will rebound, and by spring, drought will not be of great concern. Some progress in that direction was made from late November through December, but far more is needed in upcoming months. Following a recap of December conditions, this report will conclude with an overview of the Garden State’s weather/climate of 2024, including a link to our annual top 10 event list.

Statewide, December precipitation was more plentiful than any month since August, though still below the 1991–2020 normal. The rain and melted snow averaged 3.67”. This was 0.60” below normal and ranks as the 65th driest (66th wettest) since statewide records commenced in 1895. As seen most often throughout 2024, south Jersey was drier than the north in December. The southern climate division (Mercer/Middlesex/Monmouth south, except east of the Garden State Parkway) averaged 3.55” (-0.73”, 63rd driest/68th wettest), the coastal division (east of the Parkway) came in at 3.21” (-1.15, 55th driest/76th wettest), and the northern division (Hunterdon/Somerset/Union and north) averaged 3.92” (-0.33”, 70th driest/61st wettest).

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Latest Extremes

City, State Temp
Fortescue, NJ 34
Mannington Twp., NJ 34
Lower Alloways Creek, NJ 33
Atlantic City Marina, NJ 33
West Cape May, NJ 33
City, State Temp
High Point Monument, NJ 15
High Point, NJ 18
Vernon Twp., NJ 18
Wantage, NJ 20
Sandyston, NJ 21
most current information as of Feb 5 4:55 AM

Latest Conditions & Forecast

New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University Meteorology Program

28°F

Wind

0 mph from the SE

Wind Gust

9 mph from the N

Mostly Cloudy
34 °F
Mostly Cloudy then Snow/Sleet
27 °F
Wintry Mix then Rain
40 °F
Mostly Cloudy
34 °F
Sunny
41 °F
Partly Cloudy
23 °F
Partly Sunny then Chance Snow
37 °F
Wintry Mix
30 °F
Chance Rain
44 °F
Partly Cloudy
23 °F
Mostly Sunny
36 °F
Mostly Cloudy
23 °F
Chance Snow
35 °F

Today

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Tonight

A chance of snow between 1am and 4am, then snow, possibly mixed with sleet. Low around 27. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow and sleet accumulation of around an inch possible.

Thursday

Snow, possibly mixed with rain, freezing rain, and sleet, becoming all rain after 10am. High near 40. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Saturday

A chance of snow after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night

Rain, snow, and freezing rain before 1am, then rain or freezing rain. Low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Sunday

A chance of rain before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Tuesday

A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

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ONJSC's Top 10 NJ Weather and Climate Events of 2024
January 3, 2025 - 3:03pm
A dry Oak Ridge Reservoir (Morris County) on October 24th, 2024, revealing a "ghost bridge" that had been used by stagecoaches on the original roadbed of the Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike. Photo by Andre Malok/NJ.com.

For the 16th consecutive year, we in the state climate office have evaluated the myriad daily, monthly, and annual observations gathered across New Jersey during the course of the year to choose what we feel were the most significant and impactful 10 weather and climate events of 2024. More about each event can be found in the monthly narratives posted on our website. You might be tempted to rearrange the rankings, particularly as some of the events on the list may have affected you more than others ranked higher. Or perhaps you best recall one that didn't make the list. That's the...

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Peculiar Indeed: November and Fall 2024 Recaps
December 10, 2024 - 11:55am
High Point Monument (Sussex County) on the morning of November 22nd with a fresh 20.0” snowfall (photo courtesy of Shawn Viggiano).

Following a remarkably dry, record-breaking October, and the two driest consecutive months on record, you had to wonder if November would have anything of note to add to a rather peculiar fall. In short, it did not disappoint. Drought continued (but it precipitated!), warmth prevailed, and a November snowfall record was established for a single storm and location. More on fall 2024 will be presented below. First, a recap of November conditions. Statewide, November precipitation (rain and melted snow) averaged 2.65”. This was 0.71” below the 1991–2020 normal and ranks as the 52nd driest...

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Bone Dry: October 2024 Recap
November 8, 2024 - 10:15pm
Aurora Borealis as seen from High Point on October 10th, 2024 (photo courtesy of Shawn Viggiano).

New Jersey has transitioned into a worrisome drought situation following historically low October precipitation. So, too, was the September–October combined total a record low. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection issued a Drought Watch on October 17th, serving as a “heads up” that the state had been exceedingly dry for weeks. This continued through the end of the month, one in which, averaged statewide, precipitation totaled only 0.02”. This was 4.17” below the 1991–2020 normal and surpassed October 1963 as the driest October on record. Many gauges failed to collect any measurable...

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Wooly and a Bit Wild: January 2015 Recap

February 6, 2015 - 4:37pm -- Dave Robinson

Sea smoke photo

The first month of 2015 was a cold one with above-average precipitation. The form of the precipitation varied quite a bit at any particular location as well as across the state over the course of individual events. The statewide average temperature of 27.7° was 3.5° below normal, making it the 32nd coldest January since records commenced in 1895. Precipitation (rain and melted snow) averaged 4.78", which is 1.30" above normal and ranks as the 20th wettest January. Statewide, snowfall averaged 8.6", which is 1.5" above normal and ranks as the 41st snowiest January of the past 121 years. Storms of various intensities arrived every three days throughout the month, and included an impactful freezing rain and flooding event and two moderate snowstorms during the final two weeks. Several bitter cold episodes were punctuated by strong winds and frigid wind chills.

A Dreary Month, and Shades of Years Past: December and 2014 Annual Summary

January 5, 2015 - 9:58pm -- Dave Robinson

Coastal Flooding from Dec 9 Nor'easter

Clouds prevailed in this darkest month of the year, making for some rather persistent dreary conditions. Until the last week of the month there were only two days (the 4th and 7th) where the sun outperformed the clouds across NJ. At least the year ended on a bright note, with lots of sun during five of the last six days. With the clouds came a fair amount of precipitation, and given milder-than-normal conditions, the vast majority was in the form of rain. Statewide precipitation averaged 4.79". This is 0.88" above the 1981–2010 mean and ranks as the 27th wettest December since 1895. The mean temperature of 38.9° was 3.3° above average and ranked as the 15th warmest on record. Snowfall averaged 0.6", some 3.5" below average and ranked as the 19th least snowy December. A strong nor'easter brought strong winds, multiple inches of rain, minor to moderate coastal flooding, and beach erosion on the 9th.

ONJSC's Top 10 NJ Weather and Climate Events of 2014

January 4, 2015 - 12:00pm -- Dave Robinson

Snow removal at Metlife Stadium

Listed below is the Office of the NJ State Climatologist's ranking of the top 10 weather and climate events of 2014. More about each event can be found in the monthly narratives posted on njclimate.org. You might be tempted to rearrange the rankings, particularly as some of the events may have affected you more than others higher on the list. That's the enjoyment (and frustration!) of lists. This was the second consecutive year that was not too eventful for NJ weather and climate (goodness, we remain stunned by 2011 and 2012). Of course there is still plenty to talk about.

Winter Weather Trends: El Niño in New Jersey

December 19, 2014 - 4:41pm -- Jack McCarty

Global Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies

As we have mentioned in our past evaluations of the El Niño’s significance in the summer and fall, we are back again to analyze the wintertime impacts of a developing El Niño on New Jersey weather. An El Niño occurs when warmer-than-average waters exist in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, specifically near the equatorial latitudes. This warming is due to a weakening of winds moving to the west, which typically transport warmer waters to the western Pacific, permitting cooler water to upwell to the surface in the east. When these winds are weaker or if they reverse direction, warm water stays in the east. The warmer sea surface temperatures in the east and the altered atmospheric flow pattern create a new dynamic between the ocean and atmosphere. The newly formed interaction sets up distinct and repetitive weather patterns across the world. No two El Niño events are alike; they vary depending on the magnitude and location of where the largest temperature anomalies are found. However, each one tends to alter weather patterns outside the overall norm.

A Cool Damp Month, and All Things Considered, a Rather Average Season: November and Fall 2014 Recap

December 7, 2014 - 7:32pm -- Dave Robinson

Wantage snow Nov 27

While cooler conditions took some time to arrive in New Jersey this fall, once here they locked in for the most part, as the November average temperature of 41.9° was 3.7° below the 1981-2010 average. This ranks as the 24th coolest November of the past 120 years. November precipitation (rain and melted snow) averaged 4.58" across the state. This is 0.94" above average and ranks as 31st wettest. On two occasions measurable snow was reported in northern and central areas, with these regions, respectively, picking up 4.6" and 1.9" on average for the month, with over a foot accumulating at higher elevations. Despite no snow accumulating in the south, the statewide average was 1.7", which is 1.3" above average. It is only the second November to average above an inch since 1995, the other in 2012. A Thanksgiving eve storm delivered a white Thanksgiving to central and northern counties.

Mild With Some Beneficial Rain: October 2014 Recap

November 3, 2014 - 4:57pm -- Dave Robinson

Waterspout photo

The tenth month of 2014 bucked the recent tendency toward dry conditions in northern New Jersey and proved to be the warmest month compared to normal since October 2013. Statewide, the October average temperature of 57.0° was 2.2° above the 1981-2010 average. This ranks as the 23rd warmest (tied with 1955) in 120 years (since records began in 1895). The average precipitation across NJ was 3.78". This is 0.15" below the mean and ranks as the 51st wettest October. Rainfall was above average in what have been some of the driest northern counties since mid summer. Still, from Mercer and Middlesex counties northward, precipitation has only been 50-75% of normal the past three months. Thus this area is still considered "abnormally dry" on the US Drought Monitor map.

El Niño Potential: Fall Impacts

October 15, 2014 - 10:12pm -- Jack McCarty

Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies

Early this past summer, we reported on the potential impacts of a developing El Niño event in the tropical Pacific on summertime weather in New Jersey. While El Niños can impact the weather worldwide, we found that New Jersey's weather doesn't fluctuate with an El Niño event. This year's summer (June-August) proved to be rather comfortable, with the statewide average temperature 0.8° below the 1981-2010 average , and precipitation 0.26” above the 1981-2010 average. These mild conditions replicated what we expect out of an El Niño summer. Now we’re back to tell you the story for the fall.

Increasingly Dry in the North: September 2014 Recap

October 6, 2014 - 3:04pm -- Dave Robinson

Dry grass

Combined with below-average precipitation in August, the northern half of New Jersey has become quite dry. Conversely, rainfall has been more common in the south, thus despite a drier-than-average September, the two-month total is slightly above average. Looking first at September, statewide precipitation averaged 2.82". This is 1.25" below the 1981-2010 average and ranks as the 46th driest September since 1895. From Hunterdon, Somerset, and Union counties northward, only 1.49" fell, which is 3.00" below average and ranks as 7th driest. The southern counties averaged 3.47", which is 0.40" below average and ranks as 56th wettest.

Heat Events in New Brunswick: A Climatological Analysis

September 16, 2014 - 1:27pm -- Jack McCarty

Heat wave photo

The summertime in New Jersey is characterized by warm temperatures that give some relief from cold and dreary wintertime conditions. However, amongst pleasant summer days, the atmosphere can align in a way that makes the heat on other days rather unbearable — something that we commonly refer to as a heat wave. Heat waves have a large impact on public health, utilities, infrastructure and more, which is why we often hear the media discussing heat waves across the nation. While heat waves may call for a day at the beach, they're also a cause for public concern.

Comfort Reigns: August and Summer of 2014 Recaps

September 3, 2014 - 5:50pm -- Dave Robinson

Surf photo

A month ago, many NJ residents felt July was quite cool, while in fact it was just 0.4° below the 1981-2010 mean. Such was not the case in August, which truly was on the cool side. The statewide average temperature of 71.0° was 2.4° below average. It ranks as the 32nd coolest since 1895. Even when compared to the 1895-present mean, the month was 1.5° below average. Days with a maximum temperature of 90° or greater were hard to find, certainly a characteristic of the summer of 2014, which will be discussed later in this narrative.

Precipitation varied widely across the Garden State in August, rather typical of a summer month in these parts. Individual station totals ranged from 12.33” in Lacey Township (Ocean County) to 1.01” in Hillsborough (Somerset). When monthly totals from several dozen long-term stations were averaged together, the statewide precipitation was 4.39”. This is 0.18” above the 1981-2010 mean (0.26” below the 1895-present mean) and ranks as the 53rd wettest of the past 120 Augusts. It must be noted that the heavy rain that fell after 8 AM on the 31st is not accounted for in most August station totals. For the monthly state average, only several stations that observe at midnight have their full August 31st totals included, while monthly totals at most other National Weather Service Cooperative stations only run through the morning of the 31st. For more on this observing practice, see the April 2014 report.

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