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Record-Breaking Lake Effect Snow Arrives as Winter Starts

Back-to-back lake effect events produced significant snowfall across the Great Lakes region, with multiple locations seeing over 5 feet and Erie, PA, setting a record for its all-time snowiest day.

Read more in the NRCC Blog



Northeast Drought Status

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Beneficial Precipitation Falls but Significant Deficits and Drought Persist
Most areas saw beneficial precipitation at the end of November, but the first few days of December have generally produced limited precipitation. While this precipitation is helpful, drought conditions persist as significant deficits remain in areas closer to the coast. Between September 1 and December 4, precipitation deficits ranged from 6 to 10 inches below normal for sites like Baltimore (7.16-inch deficit), Philadelphia (8.02-inch deficit), Newark (7.67-inch deficit), Central Park (7.91-inch deficit), Hartford (9.32-inch deficit), and Boston (6.15-inch deficit). The precipitation continued to chip away at dryness in interior locations.

  • Extreme (D3) drought persisted in several coastal areas, contracting slightly in Massachusetts and Delaware.
  • Severe (D2) drought lingered from Maryland to New Hampshire but improved in much of West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania.
  • Moderate (D1) drought expanded in northern New England but contracted in interior parts of the Northeast.
  • Abnormal dryness spread in northeastern New York but eased in parts of northwestern New York and western Pennsylvania.
  • Only 2.31% of the Northeast was free of drought and abnormal dryness, the second-lowest percentage since the U.S. Drought Monitor began in 2000.
  • Record low or near-record low streamflow, groundwater levels, and reservoir levels persisted.
  • Wildfire risk and fire activity was reduced in many locations.
  • Most areas are expected to see wetter-than-normal weather during the 6-10 day period from December 10-14, which could pause drought deterioration or perhaps slightly improve conditions.
The NRCC’s full weekly drought update can be found here.




Website Highlights

Weather Station Data

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


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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.


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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.


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The Roadway Freezing/Thawing page has cumulative freezing and thawing index maps for Maine, New Hampshire, and the Northeast region. The Minnesoata Department of Transportation has recommended guidelines for applying and removing winter weight premiums and spring load restrictions based upon these indices.

Go to Road Freeze/Thaw Page

Climate Change Resources

Climate Change Resources includes normal difference maps as well as climate links.


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Climate Links offer an abundance of resources for the Northeast across multiple sectors …

Go to Climate Change Resources page

Webinars & Workshops

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


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

Go to Monthly Webinars

Publications & Services

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


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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