Mild March Cancels Chilly Winter

Evening Update: Today's high/low of 68°/48° yield a daily departure from average of 9°, and the monthly departure increases to +5.6°. Added chart of daily departures for March.

Original post:
With a week left to go in the first month of meteorological spring, Washington, DC temperatures are averaging 5.5° above the long-term March average. As noted earlier, winter temperatures averaged below normal mainly thanks to a cold February. However, the March warmth has more than compensated; combined with a slightly warm January, the year 2010 is averaging 0.4° above normal to date.

Even with some cooler temperatures in the forecast, especially over the weekend, the yearly temperature is likely to remain above average through the end of March. The remainder of the month would have to be at least 4.3° below average for the final January-March mean to be below normal.

Images (click to enlarge): March 2010 daily temperature departures from average, January-March 2010 monthly average temperature departures; CapitalClimate charts from National Weather Service data

WMD Greetings!

Have you hugged a meteorologist today? As noted here in the past, March 23 is World Meteorological Day. This year, it marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the World Meteorological Organization in 1950, and the theme of the celebration is "60 years of service for your safety and well-being." In a message to the world meteorological community, WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud stated

As we celebrate today the 60th Anniversary of the World Meteorological Organization, I would like to pay tribute to the meteorological community worldwide working together continuously beyond all borders to save and protect people, their homes and their livelihoods. My recognition especially goes to all staff in the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and all volunteers who support our work with generosity and dedication.

I am convinced that WMO, together with its Members, will be even more relevant in serving humanity over decades to come. We owe this capability to successive generations of meteorologists and hydrologists from all countries. To all of them, we express our gratitude.

The WMO also published a booklet [pdf] reviewing the history and accomplishments of international meteorological cooperation.

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

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:

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

Spring Storm Registers Record Rainfall

Image (click to enlarge): Southern New England 24-hour precipitation ending 8 am EDT, March 15, 2010, from National Weather Service

March 15 PM Update: More record reports:

Boston blew away its record for March 14 with 3.40", far exceeding the 1.93" in 1958. This was also only slightly below the all-time March daily record rainfall of 3.49" on March 18, 1968, making it the second wettest March day in Boston history. The last time a 3" calendar day rainfall occurred in Boston was on May 13 and 14, 2006.

Worcester's 1.75" broke the March 14 record of 1.39" in 1986.

Portland, Maine had 2.27", breaking the record of 2.17" in 1951.

Providence tied its record for March 14 with 1.28".

Image (click to enlarge): Mid Atlantic region 24-hour precipitation ending 8 am EDT, March 14, 2010, from National Weather Service

March 14 PM Update: The daily rainfall record at Philadelphia was extended to 2.57". Here are some other new daily rainfall records for March 13 (old record and date in parentheses):

Mt. Pocono PA   1.04" (1.00", 1920)
Newark NJ       3.99" (2.71", 1993)
Central Park NY 3.86" (2.61", 1953)
La Guardia NY   2.88" (2.38", 1993 & 1953)

The new record for Newark is almost 50% above the old one, and it also sets a new all-time daily record for March since daily data began in 1929. The 2.42" at Islip, NY was just short of the 2.49" measured in 1984.

Original post:
A massive spring storm moving slowly along the Atlantic Coast is bringing some record rainfalls to the Mid Atlantic region:

• As of 4 pm, the daily rainfall of 2.30" at Philadelphia had already broken the March 13 record of 1.91" set in 1984.
• Also as of 4 pm, the 2.24" at Baltimore (BWI) was close to the 2.45" associated with the 11.3" of snow in the superstorm of 1993. An additional 0.08" fell in the following hour, bringing the daily total to 2.32".
• The 1.93" at Martinsburg, WV yesterday broke the March 12 record of 1.83" set in 1968.

In the immediate Washington DC area, amounts have been somewhat lighter, with 0.50" so far at Washington National and 0.21" at Dulles.

Retail Details: Don't Blame the Weather!

Despite snowstorms hammering the Mid Atlantic, Northeast, and even parts of the South in February, retail sales figures announced today were much better than expected, up 0.3% (0.8% excluding autos):



From the high-fiber media:

• Associated Press: Retail sales rise unexpectedly in February
• Financial Times: US retail sales show surprise rise
• Business Week: Retail Sales in U.S. Unexpectedly Rose in February
• Wall St. Journal: Retail Sales Post Strong Gain
• WaPo: MIA