Data Date: March

Green leaves in bright sunlight

March 2017: Near Normal Temperatures and Precipitation Across Delaware

Posted on | by Dan Leathers

 

 

March Temperatures

Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in March was 43.6°F; this was 0.4°F below the 1981-2010 normal of 44.0°F (Figure 1). March 2017 was the first month since May 2016 registering below normal temperatures.

March Precipitation

Delaware’s statewide precipitation for March 2017 averaged 4.43 inches, 0.23 inches above the 1981-2010 mean (Figure 2). March 2017 was the first month since September 2016 with above normal precipitation across the First State. A late season winter-weather event brought up to 4 inches of snow and sleet to northern sections of New Castle County on the 13th and 14th.

Statewide Spatial Averages

Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) shows that temperatures varied across the State during the month, with most stations recording below normal mean monthly values (Figure 3). Total liquid precipitation was near normal across most of Delaware, with the driest conditions found across Chester County Pennsylvania (Figure 4).

 

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Pink flower protruding from water

Near Normal Conditions Characterize the 2016 Spring Season Across Delaware

Posted on | by Dan Leathers

 

Spring Temperatures

Preliminary data indicates that temperatures were just above the 30-year normal during the spring season. The statewide mean spring temperature of 54.7°F was 1.3°F above the 1981-2010 mean value of 53.4°F (Figure 1).

Spring Precipitation

The statewide mean precipitation of 11.47 inches was 0.23 inches below the 1981-2010 normal of 11.70 inches, and was the 7th year in a row with below normal spring precipitation (Figure 2).

Statewide Spatial Averages

Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that spring temperatures were above normal across northern New Castle County and Chester County, PA, along with portions of Kent and Sussex counties. Below normal temperatures were found along coastal and southern Sussex County and across southern New Castle and northern Kent counties (Figure 3).

Spring precipitation varied significantly across the State depending upon location. Dry conditions were especially apparent across extreme northern Delaware and Chester County, PA (Figure 4).

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Plants bask in warm sun

March 2016 Very Warm and Dry Across the First State

Posted on | by Dan Leathers

 

 

March Temperatures

 

Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in March was 49.7°F; this was 5.7°F above the 1981-2010 normal of 44.0°F (Figure 1). This made March 2016 the 4th warmest since records began in 1895.

March Precipitation

Delaware’s statewide precipitation for March 2016 averaged 2.16 inches, 2.04 inches below the 1981-2010 mean (Figure 2). Monthly snowfall was 2.7 inches at the New Castle County Airport, a value close to the March normal.

Statewide Spatial Averages

Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) shows that temperatures were above normal across the entire State, with the largest positive anomalies occurring across New Castle County, DE and Chester County, PA (Figure 3). Precipitation was below normal at each station across the region, with the largest deficits found along the Atlantic Coast of Delaware and Chester County, PA (Figure 4).

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Warm sun in orange sky

Record Warmth in Delaware Yesterday

Posted on | by Dan Leathers
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Delaware statewide maximum temperature for March 9, 2016.

 

Yesterday brought record warmth across Delaware. While the record high for the state for March 9th wasn’t broken (82 °F set in 2000 in Milford), it did set a record at the Wilmington New Castle County Airport which saw a high of 81 °F.

The previous record for March 9th at the airport was 74 °F set in 1964 and tied in 2000 and the normal high temperature for this date is 50 °F.

Today’s high temperature could again approach 80 °F at the Wilmington New Castle County Airport. If the Airport reaches 80 degrees again, it would be the earliest consecutive 80 degree days in a calendar year in the period of record for that station or for Wilmington in general, which has weather records going back as far as 1895.

For the state as a whole, Georgetown Sussex County Regional Airport experienced the earliest consecutive 80 degree days in a calendar year with 3 consecutive 80 degree days from March 8th through 10th in 2000. Although December was extremely warm for Delaware, and by far the warmest December on record, January and February saw temperatures above, but much closer to normal. With temperatures forecast to remain quite mild for the next week or so, we could be setting up for another above normal month and certainly a warm start to spring and the growing season.

 
 
Drops of water on bright green grass

Temperature and Precipitation Both Above Normal Across Delaware During 2015

Posted on | by Dan Leathers
 
 
 

Annual Temperatures

Statewide mean annual temperature in 2015 was 56.4°F according to preliminary data from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). This was 1.0°F above the 1981-2010 normal of 55.4°F (Figure 1) and was the 11th warmest year in Delaware since 1895.

Monthly temperatures varied greatly throughout the year (Figure 2). The first three months of 2015 saw much below normal temperatures, including the 6th coldest February since 1895. The last nine months of the year saw above normal temperatures, except for October, which was slightly below normal. Tremendous warmth ended the year with December temperatures averaging 12.4°F above the 1981-2010 mean. December 2015 was the warmest December on record, smashing the old record by 6.1°F.

Annual Precipitation

Statewide precipitation in 2015 averaged 46.37 inches, 2.04 inches above the 1981-2010 mean of 44.33 inches (Figure 3).

Monthly precipitation anomalies varied between positive and negative throughout the year, with seven months of below normal and five months of above normal precipitation (Figure 4). June saw the largest precipitation anomaly of 5.30 inches above the 30-year normal, helping to push the annual value above the long-term mean.

Statewide Spatial Averages

According to data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS; deos.udel.edu), mean annual temperature anomalies varied across Delaware (Figure 5). Northern New Castle County, much of Sussex County, southern Kent County and Chester County, PA all experienced above normal temperatures for the year. Coastal Sussex County and western portions of News Castle and Kent counties saw below normal mean annual temperatures.

Precipitation across the region varied substantially in 2015, ranging from just under 40 inches to greater than 50 inches at several locations across the State (Figure 6).

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Flowers

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

Posted on | by Dan Leathers
Posted on Mon 06/15/15

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

Spring 2015 average temperature departures

Figure 3. Spring 205 average temperature departures from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.
Spring 2015 precipitation departures

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

Continued Cold Grips Delaware During March 2015

Posted on | by Dan Leathers
Posted on Thu 04/23/15

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Figure 1. Delaware statewide mean March temperature (°F) 1895-2015.
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Figure 2. Delaware statewide mean March precipitation (inches) 1895-2015.

March Temperatures

Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in March was 39.9°F, 4.1°F below the 1981-2010 normal of 44.0°F (Figure 1). March 2015 was the third year in a row with significantly below normal temperatures during the month, and the 28th coldest March since records began in 1895.

March Precipitation

Delaware’s preliminary statewide precipitation total for March 2015 averaged 4.55 inches, 0.35 inches above the 1981-2010 mean (Figure 2). Several snowfall events during the month left variable snow amounts across the Region ranging from approximately 3 inches in southern Delaware to more than 14 inches across portions of Chester County, PA (Figure 3). Notable snowfall events occurred on March 5th and 20th across the State.

Statewide Spatial Averages

All stations across the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) network experienced much lower than normal temperatures during March 2015 (Figure 4). Mean monthly temperatures were generally 3°F to 6°F below normal across the entire State.

Slightly below normal precipitation values prevailed across southern Delaware, while northern Delaware and Chester County, PA saw somewhat higher than normal precipitation totals (Figure 5).

March 2015 snowfall totals based upon DEOS station data.

Figure 3. March 2015 snowfall totals based upon DEOS station data.
March 2015 average temperature anomalies from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.

Figure 4. March 2015 average temperature anomalies from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.
March 2015 precipitation departures from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.

Figure 5. March 2015 precipitation departures from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.
 
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Cars in Wilmington

Cool Temperatures and Near Normal Precipitation Characterize Delaware’s Climate During 2014

Posted on | by Dan Leathers
Posted on Mon 01/26/15 , Updated 02/01/16

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Figure 1. Delaware statewide annual mean temperature (°F) 1895-2014.
December monthly temperature anomalies.

Figure 2. Delaware monthly temperature anomalies.

Annual Temperatures

Statewide mean annual temperature in 2014 was 54.8°F according to preliminary data from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). This was 0.6°F below the 1981-2010 normal of 55.4°F (Figure 1) and was the coolest year in Delaware since 2003.

Monthly temperatures varied greatly throughout the year (Figure 2). The first four months of 2014 saw much below normal temperatures accompanied by heavy snowfall across the State. Although late spring and early summer saw a return to above normal temperatures, the late summer climate was cooler than normal, a welcome respite from the summer heat for many residents. The year ended with a return to warmth in three of the last four months.

Annual Precipitation

Statewide precipitation in 2014 averaged 43.49 inches, 0.84 inches below the 1981-2010 mean of 44.33 inches (Figure 3).

Monthly precipitation anomalies varied between positive and negative throughout the year, with six months of above normal and six months of below normal precipitation (Figure 4). None of the monthly precipitation anomalies were large, leading to the near normal annual total.

Statewide Spatial Averages

According to data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS; deos.udel.edu), mean annual temperatures were below normal across the entire State with the largest negative anomalies found in coastal Sussex County (Figure 5).

Precipitation across the region varied substantially in 2014, ranging from just under 39 inches to greater than 50 inches across the region (Figure 6).

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Figure 3. Delaware statewide annual precipitation (inches) 1895-2014.
Delaware monthly precipitation anomalies.

Figure 4. Delaware monthly precipitation anomalies.
2014 mean annual temperature departures from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.

Figure 5. 2014 mean annual temperature departures from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.
2014 annual precipitation totals based upon DEOS station data.

Figure 6. 2014 annual precipitation totals based upon DEOS station data.
 
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Walkway on Bridge

Spring 2014 cool with near normal precipitation across Delaware

Posted on | by Dan Leathers

 

 

Spring Temperatures

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Figure 1. Delaware statewide mean spring temperature (°F) 1895-2014.

Preliminary data indicates that Delaware experienced its second cooler than normal spring in a row in 2014. The Statewide mean spring temperature of 52.6°F was 0.8°F below the 1981-2010 normal of 53.4°F (Figure 1). Spring 2014 was the coolest spring in the last nine years (since 2005).

Spring Precipitation

Cool temperatures were accompanied by near normal

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Figure 2. Delaware statewide spring precipitation (inches) 1895-2014.

precipitation across the state during the spring season. The statewide mean precipitation of 11.53” was 0.17” below the 1981-2010 normal of 11.70”, and was the 5th year in a row with below normal spring precipitation (Figure 2). Although spring precipitation was near normal, spring snowfall (March) was much above normal especially in southern sections of Delaware (Figure 3).

Statewide Spatial Averages

Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) show that all stations across Delaware experienced below average temperatures during the spring season with the largest anomalies found along the Atlantic coast in Sussex County (up to 4°F below normal; Figure 4).

Nearly all stations in Kent and Sussex counties, recorded below normal precipitation for the spring season, with deficits of between 3 and 4 inches common across Sussex County. Across New Castle County, DE and Chester County, PA, precipitation was generally above normal, with positive anomalies of between 4 and 5 inches found at some stations in Chester County, PA (Figure 5).

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Snow in Rehobeth

Cold and Snow Continue into March 2014

Posted on | by Dan Leathers

Much colder than normal temperatures and ample precipitation characterized Delaware’s climate for March, 2014. The combination of cold temperatures and moisture led to heavy March snowfalls, especially for southern Delaware.

 

March Temperatures

Statewide average temperature in March was 39.7°F according to preliminary data from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). This was 4.3°F below the 1981-2010 normal of 44.0°F (Figure 1). March 2014 was the 27th coldest March since records began in 1895. It was also the second March in a row with temperatures much below normal temperatures.

March Precipitation

Statewide precipitation in March averaged 3.88 inches, very close to the 1981-2010 mean of 4.20 inches (Figure 2). Although every portion of the State received substantial snowfall during the month, the southern portions of Delaware were hardest hit, with over 15 inches of snow falling across eastern portions of Kent and Sussex counties during the month (Figure 3).

Statewide Spatial Averages

March temperatures were well below normal across the entire state and at all DEOS stations (deos.udel.edu) in March, with the largest negative temperature anomalies found where some of the heaviest snow fell in eastern Kent and Sussex counties (Figure 4).

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