April Came in Hot

The first half of April featured record- to near record-setting warmth for many parts of the Northeast. In fact, Huntington, Charleston, and Elkins, WV, and Pittsburgh, PA, had their warmest start to April on record. Precipitation was below normal in areas closer to the coast but abundant in interior locations, leading to a mix of drought deterioration and improvement across the region. Snowfall during the period was limited.

Northeast News

Conditions Deteriorate Again This Week
The U.S. Drought Monitor released on Thursday, April 30 showed drought and/or abnormally dry conditions expand in southern and coastal parts of the Northeast. This was due to factors such as limited precipitation, record to near-record low streamflow, and reduced groundwater levels and soil moisture. Agricultural impacts have also been noted in West Virginia. However, conditions improved in northern and eastern Maine, where groundwater levels continue to recover.

Severe drought grew in several Mid-Atlantic states and central Maine.
Moderate drought expanded in coastal areas from Maryland to Massachusetts and parts of Vermont and New Hampshire but contracted in northern and eastern Maine.
Abnormal dryness increased in parts of West Virginia, southern New England, and Vermont.
Record-low seven-day streamflow was found along a path from West Virginia to Massachusetts, as well as parts of Vermont and New Hampshire.
Groundwater levels were record low in several areas including eastern West Virginia, southern Maryland, New Jersey, eastern Massachusetts, and southern Maine.
Agricultural impacts tied to the dry conditions continued to be reported in parts of the Mid-Atlantic, particularly West Virginia.
The short-term outlooks for May 5-13 predict above-normal precipitation and below- or near-normal temperatures for most of the Northeast, conditions that would be expected to pause deterioration.

For more information, see the Northeast DEWS Dashboard (to see the full Northeast, click on the grayed-out Pennsylvania in the map in the top left) and the Northeast Drought Update. Submit drought impact reports via the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) page.

Website Highlights

Weather Station Data

Weather Station Data includes location-specific information, such as wind data, evapotranspiration, and daily almanacs.

CLIMOD 2 is a user-friendly website to find single-station and multi-station climate products for locations accross the country. For example, the Seasonal Ranking report produces a graph and table of extremes or other summaries for a specified period for each year.

Go to CLIMOD 2

State & Regional Analyses

These provide several map types, regional climate summaries, snow survey data, and drought information.

The Monthly Maps offer a variety of monthly precipitation and temperature departure maps for any given month for the Northeast region or a selected state.

Go to Monthly Map page

Analyses for Industry

Analyses for Industry shows products the NRCC has created through partnerships with various industries.

The Apple Frost Risk page has maps and animations for Red Delicious, Empire, and McIntosh apples. The maps show accumulated chill, growing degree days, phenological stages, and kill probability.

Go to Apple Frost Risk

Webinars & Workshops

Webinars & Workshops provides recordings and presentations from the monthly webinar series, as well as information on past and upcoming workshops.

The Northeast Regional Climate Center hosts a monthly webinar series with NOAA affiliates to address timely weather topics.

Go to Monthly Webinars

Publications & Services

Publications & Services includes the NRCC blog, quarterly outlooks, as well as other reports and publications.

The Quarterly Outlooks are seasonal climate highlights and outlook for the upcoming season for the Eastern, Region, Great Lakes, and Gulf of Maine. Published in March, June, September and December.

Go to Quarterly Reports