Ithaca Climate Summary for February 1998

Temperature

• With an average temperature of 30.4 degrees, the month of February 1998 averaged 7.8 degrees warmer than normal, although just a tenth of a degree warmer than last February.
• This was the 3rd warmest February on record in Ithaca and the warmest since 1984.
• The warmest temperature of the month was 53 degrees on the 10th.
• The coldest temperature of the month was 3 degrees on the 15th.
• There has not been a below zero temperature recorded yet this winter. If this continues, it will be the first winter since 1952-53 without a sub-zero temperature.
• The average temperature for the winter season (December-February) was 6.2 degrees warmer than normal, making it the 3rd warmest winter on record (only 1931-32 and 1889-90 were warmer).

Precipitation

• February precipitation (rain plus melted snow) totalled 2.93 inches, which was 147% of normal.
• This was the wettest February since 1990
• This was the fourth consecutive month that was wetter than normal.

Snowfall

• February snowfall totalled 14.3 inches, just 0.4 inches less than normal.
• Nearly all of the monthly total (14.1 inches) fell during one storm. The month had been on track to be the least snowiest February on record as only 0.2 inches had fallen through February 23.
• The seasonal snowfall total is now 66.5 inches, 13.8 inches greater than normal through this point in the winter.
• Monthly snowfall totals for surrounding communities included 14.5 inches in Groton and 15.1 inches in Freeville.