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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
Jersey City, NJ 28
Point Pleasant, NJ 28
Lyndhurst, NJ 27
Toms River, NJ 27
Holmdel, NJ 27
City, State Temp
High Point Monument, NJ 15
Vernon Twp., NJ 18
High Point, NJ 20
Wantage, NJ 21
Pittstown, NJ 21
most current information as of Jan 15 9:35 AM

Latest Conditions & Forecast

New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University Meteorology Program

26°F

Wind

8 mph from the WNW

Wind Gust

15 mph from the W

Sunny
32 °F
Mostly Clear
18 °F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers
32 °F
Chance Snow Showers
22 °F
Sunny
40 °F
Partly Cloudy
27 °F
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Likely
44 °F
Chance Rain
30 °F
Partly Sunny then Chance Snow
41 °F
Chance Snow
17 °F
Mostly Sunny
28 °F
Partly Cloudy
9 °F
Mostly Sunny
19 °F

Today

Sunny, with a high near 32. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 18. West wind around 5 mph.

Thursday

A slight chance of snow showers after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 32. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night

A chance of snow showers, mainly between 7pm and 1am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 40. West wind around 5 mph.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Saturday

Rain likely after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night

A chance of rain before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday

A chance of snow after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday Night

A chance of snow before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

M.L.King Day

Mostly sunny, with a high near 28.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 9.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 19.

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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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Encroaching Drought?: November and Fall 2013 Summary

December 1, 2013 - 12:00am -- Dave Robinson

Dry reservoir photo

The first statewide nor'easter of the season on the 26th-27th provided much needed rainfall and kept the month from becoming one of the driest on record. Storm specifics are found below, confirming that this event accounted for the bulk of the statewide monthly average of 2.83" and at least temporarily staved off worsening drought conditions. This was 0.81" below the 1981-2010 normal and ranked as the 52nd driest of the past 119 years. Temperatures seesawed a fair bit but overall, colder than average conditions prevailed for the second consecutive November. The statewide average of 43.0° was 2.6° below normal and tied with 1906, 1919, 1940 and 1986 as the 36th coolest on record. Rather frequent frontal passages resulted in winds gusting to 40 mph or greater on twelve November days.

Pre-Thanksgiving Soaking

November 28, 2013 - 12:00am -- Dave Robinson

Snow photo

The first statewide nor’easter of the season soaked the Garden State on Tuesday and Wednesday the 26th-27th. Heavy rain, some northwest freezing rain, and strong winds contributed to holiday travel woes, though fortunately the worst conditions occurred during the overnight hours of Tuesday into Wednesday. The excellent National Weather Service forecasts had everyone aware of the potential storm days in advance, which helped in planning and preparation.

A Tranquil October (Imagine That!): October 2013 Summary

November 4, 2013 - 12:00am -- Dave Robinson

Damage from tornado in Paramus on October 7th. Photo Credit: Michael Harger
Following the past two October 29ths, it was wonderful to see sunny skies and seasonable maximum temperatures ranging from the mid to upper 40°s in the northwest to the low to mid 60°s in south this 29th. As a matter of fact, aside from a strong frontal passage blowing through the north on the 7th and a stubborn coastal storm impacting the south from the 9th-12th, conditions were quite tranquil throughout most of October 2013. A summer-like first week was the major contributor to the statewide monthly average temperature of 57.1° coming in 2.3° above normal. This ties with 1950 and 1951 as the 20th mildest October since statewide records commenced in 1895.

October begins with record warmth, a tornado, and strong winds

October 9, 2013 - 12:00am -- Dan Manzo

Damage from tornado in Paramus

The first week of October was nothing but bizarre, or at least to most New Jerseyeans it seemed that way. The period included unseasonably warm weather, heavy rain, strong winds and even a tornado. It was all credited to a stationary front that held in position in Southern New York, which allowed warm air to enter the Garden State. The warm air was later pushed out, when a sharp and potent cold front from the Midwest set off severe storms and heavy rain in parts of the area.

Cool and Dry Conditions Prevail: September 2013 Summary

October 1, 2013 - 12:00am -- Dave Robinson

Seaside Heights fire

September 2013 was the second consecutive month with the statewide average temperature coming in below normal. The 64.4° average was 1.8° below the 1981-2010 average. This ranks as the 40th coolest September since 1895, tied with 1920 and 1922, and the coolest since 1994.

Statewide precipitation averaged 2.40" in September. This is 1.67" below average and ranks as the 30th driest on record, tied with 1910. This is the first month since this past May with below-average precipitation.

First NJ Freeze of the Fall Season

September 24, 2013 - 12:00am -- Dave Robinson

Frost on grass

At 3:40 AM this morning, Tuesday September 24, the temperature at the NJ Weather and Climate Network (NJWxNet) SafetyNet station in Walpack (Sussex County) fell to 32°. This marks the first freezing observation of the fall season at a New Jersey location. With dense cold air draining from the surrounding hillsides, this northwest valley location is commonly amongst the coldest locations in the 56-station NJWxNet constellation. The Walpack temperature vacillated between a minimum of 31° and 32° the rest of the night until climbing to 33° at 6:45. Walpack had previously fallen to a summer minimum of 33° this month on September 17th and 18th.

Other chilly locations this morning include Pequest (Warren) 33°, Basking Ridge (Somerset) 35°, and nine other NJWxNet stations between 37°-39°. Meanwhile, coastal stations at Harvey Cedars (Ocean) and West Cape May (Cape May) were the mildest locations at 49°.

A Cool August and a Warm and Wet Summer of 2013

September 2, 2013 - 12:00am -- Dave Robinson

Tornado Damage

After two warm and wet months to start off the summer of 2013, August provided an about face in the temperature department. The 71.6° statewide mean is 1.8° below the 1981-2010 average and ranks as the 41st coolest August since statewide records commenced in 1895. It was only 0.1° warmer than this past June. Precipitation averaged 4.50", which is 0.29" above normal and makes this the 51st wettest of the past 119 Augusts.

What a change from July. There were only four afternoons when the temperature was 90° or higher somewhere in the state, compared with 18 in July. The warmest it got was 93° at Harrison (Hudson County) on the 21st and only nine stations reached 90° at some point during the month, compared to most of the 50 NJWxNet stations reaching that mark in July.

Yet another hot summer month: July 2013 Summary

August 4, 2013 - 12:00am -- Dave Robinson

Tornado Damage in Berkeley Heights

July 2013 marked yet another in a lengthening sequence of hot mid-summer months across New Jersey. Most notable this year was the frequency of unusually warm nighttime temperatures. Accompanying the warmth and often excessive humidity were widely varying rainfall totals, which on a statewide basis averaged above the long-term mean. The statewide average temperature of 78.2° was 3.2° above average. This ranks as the 5th warmest July since records commenced in 1895. Remarkably, the most recent four Julys all are within the top six, with three other Julys from the last 20 years also populating the top 10.

The statewide average temperature of 78.2° was 3.2° above average. This ranks as the 5th warmest July since records commenced in 1895 (Table 1). Remarkably, the most recent four Julys all are within the top six, with three other Julys from the last 20 years also populating the top 10.

No escaping a sultry, sweaty heat wave

July 22, 2013 - 8:09pm -- Dan Manzo

Garden State residents suffered through another heat wave last week, and at times it seemed like the unrelenting heat would never subside. A heat wave is unofficially defined as three or more consecutive days with the maximum temperature at or over 90°. This heat wave lasted seven days for many areas and furthermore, very high dew points (a measure of moisture in the air) made the heat index soar above 105°.

The heat wave began for many on Sunday, July 14, with stations in central and northeast Jersey, such as Haworth, Jersey City, New Brunswick, Howell, and Toms River all recording high temperatures in the low 90°s. Hawthorne was the hottest spot with a high temperature of 94°. Other stations recorded high temperatures in the upper 80°s. This combined with widespread dew points above 70° resulted in heat indices at or near 100°.

Union County towns see rare tornado

July 3, 2013 - 1:24pm -- Tom Karmel

Tornado Damage in Berkeley Heights

Mary Borsos walked toward her backdoor the morning of July 1 in Berkeley Heights (Union County) and noticed the rain falling in heavy sheets. “It didn't seem like anything unusual due to all the rain and thunderstorms we’ve had these past couple weeks.”

However, she quickly noticed the wind pick up, and took her three grandchildren a couple steps into the dining room away from windows. Within those couple steps, she heard trees begin to snap and branches pound the house. In what she described as “no more than two minutes”, Borsos’ yard was littered with downed trees, snapped power lines, and scattered outdoor furniture. Little did Borsos and many know, three towns encountered their first ever documented tornado.

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