Spring 2019 – Warm Temperatures and Near Normal Precipitation Across Delaware

Spring Temperatures

Spring Temperatures Preliminary data indicates that spring temperatures averaged 55.8°F, 2.4°F above the 30-year “normal” of 53.4°F (Figure 1). Spring 2019 is tied with 1945 and 2011 as the 7th warmest since records began in 1895.

Spring Precipitation

Spring Precipitation The statewide mean precipitation of 12.10 inches was 0.4 inches above the 1981-2010 normal of 11.70 inches (Figure 2). This value placed the spring of 2019 in the wettest one-third of years since 1895.

Statewide Spatial Averages

Statewide Spatial Anomalies Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that spring temperature anomalies were above normal across the entire State (Figure 3). Spring precipitation anomalies varied significantly across the state, but were all above normal (Figure 4). Anomalies were greater than three inches at several of the DEOS stations.

National Anomalies

National Anomalies Above normal spring temperatures were found across the southern Atlantic coast of the U.S. from Florida through the Mid-Atlantic Region (Figure 5), while colder than normal temperatures were found across the north-central portions of the country. Precipitation varied greatly across the continental United States, with the Mid-Atlantic Region generally seeing above normal values (Figure 6).

Positive 500 hPa height anomalies were present over the Mid-Atlantic Region during the spring season, indicative of anomalous ridging with enhanced flow from the south and moisture transport into our State (Figure 7). This anomalous flow helped to make the season warmer and wetter than normal.

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