Monthly Summaries

Upon updating a weather friend regarding February conditions that transpired while they were away from the region, he remarked that most of what I reported appeared to have been more along the line of nuisances, while nothing of a blockbuster status occurred. I agreed, as while there were a few plowable events, one soaker (freezing rain at higher elevations), some cold and mild days, and (like in January) quite a few windy days, precipitation and temperatures came in close to normal and not much occurred that will leave lasting memories. In many respects, this applies to the entire winter of 2024/2025 (December–February), leaving an impression among many that this season had a wintrier feel than recent years. However, it was without a major nor’easter, be one excessively wet or white. Meanwhile, when all was said and done, a statewide drought warning remained in place. This report examines February conditions followed by a winter recap.

Statewide, February precipitation (rain and melted snow) averaged 2.53”. This is 0.33” below the 1991–2020 normal and ranks 50th driest since 1895. The precipitation was quite evenly distributed across the state, although the northwest came in on the drier side. The northern climate division averaged 2.56” (-0.23”, 58th driest), the southern division 2.50” (-0.39, 46th driest), and the coastal division 2.59” (-0.48”, 51st driest).

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).

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 precipitation and those that did, at best, saw no more than about 0.10”. The northern climate division averaged 0.03” (-4.42”, driest), southern division 0.01” (-4.02, driest), and coast 0.02” (-4.07”, driest).

This was not a record low precipitation just for October, rather for any month. Seven of the ten driest months since 1895 have occurred in the fall. When warm-season showers and possible late-season tropical systems fail to deliver rain to the Garden State, and early cold-season low pressure systems fail to arrive, extended dry spells may occur. Still, runs of 30 or more days without measurable precipitation are quite rare. Dry streaks at some stations were continuing into November as of the report publication date (November 8th).

October precipitation futility in conjunction with the third driest September on record resulted in the driest of any pairing of consecutive months on record. The 0.80” total was 0.55” lower than the previous record in December 1980–January 1981. The southern half of the state was drier than the north, though both were woefully dry.

While it is exceedingly rare to see monthly or seasonal temperature departures from normal differ in sign or even notable magnitude between southern and northern portions of New Jersey, such is not always the case for precipitation. This August and summer as a whole exemplify such disparities. While rain was often plentiful in the north, more often than not, the south did not see gauges fill as much or as often. This report will first address August conditions in the Garden State, finishing with a recap of climatological summer (June–August).

August precipitation averaged 6.52” across NJ. This is 1.95” above the 1991–2020 normal and ranks as the 22nd wettest August since records commenced in 1895. The northern climate division (Hunterdon-Somerset-Union and all counties to their north) averaged 8.53”. This is 3.97” above normal and ranks as the 10th wettest. The southern division (Mercer-Middlesex-Monmouth and all but immediate coastal areas to the south) came in at 5.39”. This is 0.82” above normal and ranks 41st wettest of the past 130 Augusts. The coastal division averaged 4.37”, which is 0.23” below normal and ranks 60th wettest (71st driest).

Despite wide-ranging weekly differences, statewide August temperatures were just 0.3° above normal, averaging 73.9°. This ranks as the 30th warmest back to 1895, certainly not near a ranking close to the mid-point of the entire period of record, thus exemplifying how much NJ has warmed over recent decades. The north averaged 72.2° (+0.3°, 28th warmest), the south 75.0° (+0.4°, 30th warmest), and the coast 75.0° (+0.3°, 25th warmest).

Above-average temperatures ruled in June. So, what else is new? As will be seen later in this report, the first half of 2024 ranked as the second warmest since statewide records commenced in 1895. June 2024 was also the 7th consecutive month with temperatures above the 1991–2020 average and 10th of the last 12 in that category. June itself came in as New Jersey’s 2nd warmest, tied with 1943 and just behind 2010. Six of the 11 warmest have occurred since 2005. The 73.6° average was 3.3° above normal. The average high of 85.1° was 4.1° above normal, tied for the 2nd warmest, and the average low of 62.0° was 2.4° above normal, ranking 4th warmest. Each of the three NOAA state climate divisions had their 2nd warmest June. The north averaged 71.7° (+3.1°), south 74.8° (+3.4°), and coast 73.8° (+3.3°).

As often occurs during the warm season, the rainfall pattern was a mixed bag as the month progressed and also across the state on any given day. Overall, the state experienced a dry month, with the majority of the state considered Abnormally Dry (D0) in the last US Drought Monitor assessment of the month. With some rain falling after the June 30th approximate 7–8 AM observing time of most National Weather Service Cooperative and Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) stations, any daytime or evening rain is entered into the record book as falling on July 1st. Thus, the official map below does not include some of the heavy post-observing time heavy rain in Cape May County the morning of the 30th nor rain occurring elsewhere in the state later in the day. For the month, the state average 2.74”, which is 1.56” below normal and ranks 28th driest. The north averaged 2.23” (-2.38”, 13th driest), south 3.07” (-1.07”, 49th driest), and coast 2.84” (-1.01”, 51st driest).