Warm Start to March

March kicked off with above-normal temperatures across the Northeast. In fact, this March 1-15 period ranked among the 20 warmest such periods for 27 of the region's 35 major sites. Precipitation amounts varied, with the period ranking among the 20 driest for three major sites but among the 20 wettest for seven others. With above-normal temperatures, most areas had a snowfall deficit, even in spots that saw above-normal precipitation.

Northeast News

Drought Improvement Continues
The U.S. Drought Monitor released on Thursday, March 26 showed improvement in drought and/or abnormally dry conditions in multiple parts of the Northeast this week due to beneficial rainfall and recovering streamflow, groundwater levels, and soil moisture. However, there was some expansion of abnormal dryness in West Virginia. For much of the Northeast, though, conditions were unchanged.

Severe drought shrank in coverage in northern New Jersey.
Moderate drought contacted in parts of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.
Abnormal dryness was erased from parts of Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland but expanded in parts of West Virginia.
Seven-day streamflow ranged from much below normal to much above normal.
Reservoir levels have risen significantly in most of New Jersey during March.
Groundwater levels ranged from record low to record high.
The short-term outlooks for March 31-April 8 predict above-normal precipitation and near- or above-normal temperatures for a large portion of the Northeast, which could be beneficial for drought recovery.

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