A Cold, Dry Start to Fe-brrr-uary

February 1-15 precipitation ranged from less than 25% of normal to near normal.

The first two weeks of February were drier than normal across the Northeast, with a large portion of the region seeing less than 25% of normal precipitation. February 1-15 precipitation at the Northeast’s 35 major sites ranged from 4% of normal at a few New York City metro area sites to 91% of normal in Beckley, WV, with 21 of the sites seeing less than 25% of normal precipitation. This first half of February ranked among the 10 driest such periods on record for 22 major sites and among the 20 driest for another six major sites.

It was among the 10 driest February 1-15 periods for 22 major sites and among 20 driest such periods for six others.

February 1-15 average temperatures generally ranged from more than 8°F below normal to near normal.

The first half of February was colder than normal for almost the entire Northeast, with average temperatures running more than 6°F colder than normal in many areas. The notable exception was northern Maine, which was close to or slightly warmer than normal. At the region’s 35 major sites, February 1-15 average temperatures ranged from 9.5°F below normal in Scranton, PA, to 0.1°F below normal in Caribou, ME. This first half of February ranked among the 20 coldest such periods on record for 20 major sites.

This February 1-15 period was among the 20 coldest such periods on record for 20 major sites.

February 1-15 snowfall ranged from more than 9 inches below normal to over 6 inches above normal.

Much of the Northeast had a snowfall deficit for the first half of February, with the largest deficits of over 9 inches in places like western Maryland and western New York near Lake Erie. However, a few locations saw a snowfall surplus including northeastern Massachusetts and western New York near Lake Ontario where the surplus exceeded 6 inches. February 1-15 snowfall at the Northeast’s 35 major sites ranged from 7.5 inches below normal in Caribou, ME, to 6.4 inches above normal in Rochester, NY, with 31 of the sites receiving less snow than normal. This first half of February ranked among the 20 least snowy such periods on record at five major sites.

This February 1-15 period ranked among the 20 least snowy such periods on record for five major sites.