Delaware Sees Near Normal Temperatures and Below Normal Precipitation During Spring 2015

Figure 1. Delaware statewide mean Spring temperature (°F) 1895 through 2015.

Figure 2. Delaware statewide spring precipitation (inches) 1895-2015.

Spring Temperatures

Preliminary data indicates that spring temperatures were near normal this year. The statewide mean spring temperature of 54.0°F was 0.6°F above the 1981-2010 normal of 53.4°F (Figure 1). Monthly temperatures during the season were quite varied, with March coming in much below average, April near normal and May much above average.

Spring Precipitation

The statewide mean precipitation of 9.15 inches was 2.55 inches below the 1981-2010 normal of 11.70 inches, and was the 6th year in a row with below normal spring precipitation (Figure 2).

Statewide Spatial Averages

Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that temperature anomalies across the State varied during the spring season with a mix of positive and negative departures found across the State (Figure 3).

Nearly every station in the DEOS network recorded below normal precipitation during the spring season, with some stations recording deficits of nearly five inches (Figure 4).

Figure 3. Spring 205 average temperature departures from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.

Figure 4. Spring 2015 precipitation departures from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.