November 2023 – Cool and Dry Across Delaware

November Temperatures
Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in November was 46.1° F, which is 1.4°F below the 1991-2020 mean value of 47.5° F (Figure 1).  November was only the 3^rd month so far in 2023 with below normal temperatures.

November Precipitation
Delaware’s statewide precipitation for November 2023 averaged 2.50 inches, 0.77 inches below the 1991-2020 mean (Figure 2).  November was the 7^th month of 2023 with below normal precipitation totals.

Statewide Spatial Anomalies
Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that temperature departures were generally negative across the entire state (Figure 3), except for the Wilmington metropolitan area where temperatures were near normal.  Precipitation anomalies were consistently negative across the entire state, with most stations seeing rainfall more than three inches below normal for the month (Figure 4).   

National Anomalies
Temperatures were above normal across most of the United States except for the Northeast corner of the country and southern Texas (Figure 5).  Precipitation was below normal across most of the eastern United States except for southern portions of Florida and Texas.  Dry conditions were also found along the Pacific Coast (Figure 6). The 500 hPa height pattern for November shows a jet stream trough over the northeastern United States contributing to the temperature anomalies across that region and the generally dry conditions across the eastern portions of the country (Figure 7).

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