Dry, Dry October!

October 2024 became the all-time driest month on record for eight major climate sites and was the driest October for two other sites.

October 2024 went into the record books as the all-time driest month on record for eight of the Northeast’s 35 major climate sites. Three of those sites - Newark, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; and Wilmington, DE - did not see measurable precipitation (0.01 inches or more) during October, the first month on record to achieve that feat for all three sites. These records extend back to 1871 in Philadelphia, 1894 in Wilmington, and 1931 at Newark. Central Park and LaGuardia Airport, NY, eked out a single day of measurable precipitation during the month, while Allentown, PA, and Atlantic City, NJ, saw a meager 0.02 inches this October. Each of these seven sites saw 0% of normal precipitation for the month. This October also ranked among the 20 all-time driest months for another nine major climate sites. Two of those sites - Kennedy Airport, NY, and Bridgeport, CT - had a record-dry October that ranked as the second all-time driest month on record. Additionally, this October was among the 10 driest Octobers on record for an additional 14 major climate sites.

October precipitation ranged from less than 25% of normal to near normal.

October precipitation ranged from less than 25% of normal to near normal, with the driest spots in parts of West Virginia and an area from southern Maryland to coastal Maine. For many locations, dry conditions extended back to September. Wilmington, DE, and Islip, NY, were record dry in September, as well as October, making it the first time on record the sites saw back-to-back record dry months. Both September and October rank among the five all-time driest months on record for Islip and 15 all-time driest months for Wilmington. Philadelphia, PA, and Newark, NJ, have seen their longest streak of days without measurable precipitation, which started in late September and extended at least through October 31. The streak of days without measurable precipitation ranked among the 10 longest at a handful of other sites, which could continue to grow into November. For instance, Wilmington only needed to make it through November 1 without measurable precipitation to tie its record-longest streak.

The persistent lack of precipitation contributed to record-low streamflow, reduced soil moisture, an increase in wildfire activity, and a variety of other impacts, which can be read about in the NRCC’s weekly drought update. With that, there was significant expansion of drought and abnormal dryness across the Northeast during October.

Philadelphia, PA, and Newark, NJ, have seen their longest streak of days without measurable precipitation.

October temperatures were as much as 4°F warmer than normal for much of the Northeast.

The dryness was made somewhat worse by warmer-than-normal October temperatures for much of the Northeast, with the greatest departures of 2°F to 4°F above normal. At the region’s 35 major climate sites, October average temperatures ranged from 1.2°F below normal in Baltimore, MD, the lone cooler-than-normal site, to 4.3°F above normal in Hartford, CT. This October ranked among the 20 warmest Octobers on record for 19 major climate sites.

This October ranked among the 20 warmest Octobers on record for 19 major climate sites.

Continued drier-than-normal conditions are predicted for coastal areas for November, while the entire Northeast is expected to average out to be warmer than normal for the month. Click to enlarge.

Outlooks from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center indicate drier-than-normal conditions could persist through November for an area from southern Maryland up to coastal Maine. This is based on expected below-normal precipitation during the first part of November, along with projected drier conditions at month’s end; however, the anticipated mid-November weather pattern could bring more moisture into the region, potentially overriding the dryness. The entire Northeast is expected to average out to be warmer than normal for the month.