November 2019 – Cold and Dry Across Delaware

November Temperatures

Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in November was 43.6°F, which is 4.0°F below the 1981-2010 mean value of 47.6°F (Figure 1). This places November 2019 as the 22nd coldest since records began in 1895.

November Precipitation

Delaware’s statewide precipitation for November 2019 averaged only 1.46 inches, 1.94 inches below the 1981-2010 mean (Figure 2). This placed the November 2019 precipitation amount in the bottom one-third of months since 1895.

Statewide Spatial Anomalies

Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that temperature departures were uniformly below normal throughout the State (Figure 3), with the largest negative anomalies reaching values greater than -6°F. Precipitation was below normal at all stations across the State (Figure 4), with several stations in Kent County recording anomalies of greater than 2” below the long-term mean value.

National Anomalies

Temperatures were below normal throughout the eastern portion of the U.S, where some negative anomalies reached greater than 7°F (Figure 5). The western one-third of the U.S. saw above normal temperatures for the month, with parts of the Pacific Coast recording temperatures more than 5°F above normal. Precipitation varied greatly across the U.S. with very dry conditions across the Pacific Northwest and very wet conditions across the southwestern portion of the country (Figure 6). The 500 hPa height pattern for November showed a strong trough dominating the eastern U.S. (Figure 7), bringing the cold and dry conditions to our region.

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