Thursday, March 18, 2010

Early Spring Sets New Temperature Records From Minnesota to Maine, Into Canada
122-Year Marks Smashed

March 19 Update: Toronto has broken the high temperature record for March 19; as of 4 pm EDT, the temperature is 19°C:
High of 18 breaks Toronto warm weather record

The temperature of 16°C at Ottawa also smashes the record of 12.4°C in 1986.

Image (click to enlarge): High temperatures for March 17, from Unisys

Evening Update: More records on March 18:
Wausau WI    62 (61, 1918/1903)
Rochester MN 60 (tied 1945)
Toronto's period of record (1938-2009) is somewhat shorter, but today's high temperature of 18°C was just short of the record 18.9°C. in 1966. Tomorrow's forecast high temperature of 18°C, if it occurs, will easily break the record of 14.2°C set on March 19, 1986.

Several Canadian locations set records on March 17 (Canada basks in record high temperatures). Records were set in Montreal, Ottawa, and Halifax as well as in places as far apart as Manitoba and New Brunswick. So far, March has been the warmest on record in many places following a very warm winter.

Original post:


2 PM Update: Added records for New York, Maine

Early spring warmth has set or tied daily temperature records across the northern Midwest, New York, and New England in the past week. New records reported by the National Weather Service include (old record and date in parentheses):
March 17
Sault Ste. Marie MI 58 (56, 1946)
Massena NY 61 (59, 1990)
Portland ME 64 (62, 1990)
Bangor ME 62 (tied 1936)
Caribou ME 54 (45, 2007)
Houlton ME 55 (tied 1936)

March 16
Sault Ste. Marie MI 62 (56, 2003)
Bangor ME 60 (58, 1927)
Caribou ME 57 (48, 1971)
Houlton ME 56 (52, 1973)
Millinocket ME 59 (54, 1946)

March 15
Duluth MN 60 (57, 1995)
Sault Ste. Marie MI 63 (52, 1990)
Caribou ME 54 (51, 1977)

March 14
Eau Claire WI 66 (65, 1973)
Minneapolis MN 64 (62, 1878/1973/1990)
International Falls MN 54 (tied 1911)
Caribou ME 51 (50, 1996)

March 13
Sault Ste. Marie MI 62 (58, 1995)
Sault Ste. Marie MI 44 (38, 1946/1929) record warmest minimum

March 11
Sault Ste. Marie MI 50 (47, 2007)
Sault Ste. Marie MI 41 (39, 1902) record warmest minimum

March 9
Sault Ste. Marie MI 55 (49, 1898/2000)
Note that Sault Ste. Marie has set 5 records in the last 7 days. Only 2 days in February were below average, and none in March. The last 8 consecutive days have each been at least 20° above average. The monthly average for March through the 17th is an amazing 16.7° above average. The long-term average for this time of year is a low of 15 and a high of 32. Records began at Sault Ste. Marie in 1888.

Caribou has also had only 2 days below average since Feb. 1. Every day except one from Feb. 8 through March 8 was at least 10° above average. February overall averaged 10.7° above average, and March is continuing to average the same amount of warmth.

Image (click to enlarge): March 2010 daily temperatures at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan from National Weather Service

Monday, March 15, 2010

Washington Weathercaster Revolving Door Continues to Spin

The churn in the local broadcasting market fed by falling revenues has brought another new face to Washington weathercasting. Following the recent departure of veteran meteorologist Bob Ryan, the 11 pm report on WRC-TV, Channel 4, last night was delivered by Justin Drabick. Drabick's presentation showed a familiarity with local geography undoubtedly acquired during an early career spent on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

After graduation in 2004 from Millersville University, he spent 5 years at WMDT, Channel 47, the ABC affiliate in Salisbury. In December, he moved to WBOC, the Salisbury CBS/Fox affiliate broadcasting on channels 16 and 21. Drabick holds a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society.

Image: Justin Drabick from Flickr

Justin Drabick's first broadcast on WBOC-TV from YouTube:

Sunday, March 14, 2010

U.S. Temperature Review: 29th Coldest February Caps 18th Coldest Winter

See here for other seasonal weather posts.

The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) preliminary analysis, posted last week, shows that U.S. February 2010 average temperatures were the 29th coldest out of 116 years of records. Meteorological winter (December 2009-February 2010) was the 18th coldest.

Nationwide, the average temperature was 32.4°F, or 2.2° below the long-term average in February. The coldest temperatures relative to average were across much of the Deep South. Temperatures were also below average in the Plains and Mid Atlantic area. For the South and Southeast, it was the 7th coldest February. Southern states which had their top 10 coldest Februaries included:
  • 4th coldest: Florida
  • 5th coldest: Louisiana
  • 6th coldest: Alabama, Georgia, and Texas
  • 7th coldest: Arkansas
  • 8th coldest: Mississippi, South Carolina
In the Mid Atlantic region, both Maryland and Virginia had their 20th coldest February. Delaware had its 23rd coldest, and it was the 16th coldest for West Virginia.

The warmest readings were found in the Pacific Northwest and northern New England. States having top 10 warmest Februaries were:
  • 3rd warmest: Maine
  • 5th warmest: New Hampshire
  • 6th warmest: Washington
Images (click to enlarge): U.S. February average temperature since 1895, statewide temperature ranks for February 2010 and winter 2009-2010 (December-February); from NCDC

Seasonal Outlook

Latest seasonal forecast: Click here.


Latest 3-month temperature outlook from Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA.