Near Normal Temperatures and Above Normal Precipitation Characterize the 2018 Spring Season Across Delaware

Figure 1. Delaware statewide mean spring temperature (°F) 2018. Gray line indicates 1981-2010 normal.

Figure 2. Delaware statewide spring precipitation (inches) 1895-2018. Gray line indicates 1981-2010 normal.

Spring Temperatures

Preliminary data indicates that spring temperatures were exactly
equal to the 30-year “normal” of 53.4°F (Figure 1). This was the
fourth year in a row with spring temperatures at or above the 30-year
mean.

Spring Precipitation

The statewide mean precipitation of 14.48 inches was 2.78 inches
above the 1981-2010 normal of 11.70 inches, making it the 15th
wettest since records began in 1895 (Figure 2).

Statewide Spatial Averages

Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS)
show that spring temperature anomalies across the State varied
dependent upon location and were generally small at all stations
(Figure 3).

Spring precipitation totals were above normal across
most of the State, with the largest positive anomalies found across
Sussex County (Figure 4), where some stations recorded spring
precipitation amounts more than six inches above average.

Figure 3. Spring 2018 average temperature departures (°F) from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.

Figure 4. Spring 2018 precipitation departures (inches) from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.