Ithaca Climate Summary for February 2002

Temperature

• With an average temperature of 31.4 degrees, the month averaged 7.9 degrees warmer than normal.
• This was the 2nd warmest February on record. The warmest was February 1984 at 31.7 degrees.
• This was the fourth consecutive month with a positive temperature departure of more than 5 degrees.
• The warmest temperature of the month was 57 degrees on the 26th.
• The coldest temperature of the month was 6 degrees on the 11th.
• Only six days this month were colder than normal.
• The winter season (December-February) averageed 32.6 degrees (7.8 degrees warmer than normal), making it the warmest winter on record. The old record was 31.6 degrees in 1931-32.

Precipitation

• February precipitation totalled 1.54 inches, which represented 75% of normal.
• More than half the monthly total (0.78 inches) came during the 24 hours ending at 8am on the 11th.
• Precipitation for each of the last five months has been below normal, with an accumulated deficit of 3.58 inches.

Snowfall

• February snowfall amounted to only 6.3 inches. This was 7.8 inches below normal.
• This was the least snowiest February since 1965.
• There were only 6 days this month with measurable snow cover -- the least on record for a February.
• Seasonal snowfall through February was 18.3 inches, which was 34 inches below normal.
• This was the second lowest October-February total, trailing only the winter of 1918-19 with 15.8 inches.