Northeast Regional Climate Center New England Climate DECEMBER 2014 VOLUME 114 NUMBER 12 Website: http://www.nrcc.cornell.edu Address: Phone: (607)255.1751 1123 Bradfield Hall Fax: (607)255.2106 Cornell University Email: [email protected] Ithaca, NY 14853 CONTENTS CLIMATE DIVISION MAP ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 DECEMBER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS ....................................................................................................................................... 2 DAILY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND THE 30-YEAR NORMAL ............................................................................................. 6 MONTHLY TEMPERATURE MAPS ........................................................................................................................................... 8 MONTHLY PRECIPITATION MAPS .......................................................................................................................................... 9 MONTHLY SNOWFALL MAPS ............................................................................................................................................... 10 PRELIMINARY MONTHLY SUMMARIZED DATA DECEMBER 2014 ........................................................................................ 11 PRELIMINARY MONTHLY DEGREE DATA DECEMBER 2014 .................................................................................................. 16 NRCC Staff: Dr. Arthur DeGaetano Mr. Keith Eggleston Mrs. Samantha Borisoff Mrs. Pamela Vitale Director Regional Climatologist Assistant Climatologist Administrative Assistant Mr. William Noon Mrs. Jessica Spaccio Ms. Tara Fardellone Computer Analyst Assistant Climatologist Publication Design State Climatologists: Dr. X Harrison Yang Dr. George I. Jacobson Mr. David Taylor Dr. Mary Stampone Dr. Lesley Ann Dupigny – Giroux 1376 Storrs Rd. Bryand Global Sci. Ctr. State Climatologist 102 Huddleston Hall Old Mill Bldg. Dept. Geography Univ. Of Connecticut Univ. of Maine 610 Mulpus Road Univ. of New Hampshire Univ. of Vermont Storrs, CT 06260 Orono, ME 04469-5790 Lunenburg, MA01462 Durham, NH 03824 Burlington, VT 05405 860.486.0135 207.581.2991 603.862.3136 802.656.3060 This project is conducted with funds provided by NOAA Contract No. EA133E-07-CN-0090 CLIMATE DIVISION MAP Vermont Climate Divisions New Hampshire Climate Divisions Maine Climate Divisions 1 Northern 1 Northern 1 Northern 2 Western 2 Southern 2 Southern Interior 3 Southern 3 Coastal Massachusetts Climate Divisions Connecticut Climate Divisions 1 Western 1 Northwest 2 Central 2 Central 3 Coastal 3 Coastal 1 DECEMBER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS December brought milder conditions back to New England. The region’s average temperature of 28.6 degrees F, 4.2 degrees F above normal, made it the 11th warmest December since 1895. All six states were warmer than normal, but only five ranked this December among their top 15 warmest: New Hampshire, 10th warmest; Massachusetts, 12th warmest; and Maine, Connecticut, and Vermont, 13th warmest. Departures ranged from 2.4 degrees F above normal in Rhode Island to 4.4 degrees F above normal in Maine. All divisions were warmer than normal, as well, with rankings listed below. Taunton, MA, reported the month’s highest temperature: 68 degrees F on the 2nd. The cool spot was Limestone, ME, which reported a low of -20 degrees F on the 31st. Climate Division Rank (warmest since 1895) Maine Southern Interior 12th Northern 13th Coastal 15th New Hampshire Southern 11th Northern 12th Connecticut Coastal 8th Northwestern 12th Central 14th Vermont Southeastern 13th Western 15th Northeastern 15th Massachusetts Coastal 7th Central 13th Western 16th New England wrapped up December on the wet side of normal. The region picked up 5.53 inches of precipitation, 150 percent of normal, making it the 11th wettest December in 120 years. All states were wetter than normal, with four ranking the month among their top 20 wettest: Maine, 7th wettest; New Hampshire, 15th wettest; Massachusetts, 16th wettest; and Rhode Island, 19th wettest. Departures ranged from 117 percent of normal in Vermont up to 168 percent of normal in Maine. All divisions were wetter than normal, with several ranking the month among their top 20 wettest. See below. Machias, ME, had the month’s greatest precipitation total of 13.55 inches, while Newburyport, MA, had the greatest daily total of 5.06 inches on the 10th. As for snow, Pinkham Notch, NH, accumulated 38.5 inches during December, with 13.0 inches of that on the 10th. Brassua Dam, ME, also picked up 13.0 inches of snow on the 10th. Climate Division Rank (wettest since 1895) Maine Northern 7th Coastal 7th Southern Interior 14th New Hampshire Southern 13th Northern 17th Massachusetts Coastal 12th 2 According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 66 percent of Connecticut, 28 percent of New Hampshire, 24 percent of Rhode Island, 10 percent of Massachusetts, 3 percent of Maine, and less than 1 percent of Vermont were experiencing abnormally dry conditions at the start of December. In addition, 75 percent of Rhode Island, 27 percent of Connecticut, and less than 1 percent of Massachusetts were experiencing moderate drought. Abundant precipitation eased dry conditions region-wide by mid-month. A slow-moving low pressure system brought a wintry mix to New England from December 9 to 11. Up to 24 inches of snow, a coating of ice, up to 6 inches of rain, and wind gusts to 62 mph were reported. Travel disruptions were the biggest impact from the storm. On the 9th, 120 crashes were reported during the morning commute in Connecticut, while coastal areas of Massachusetts experienced road closures due to flooding. In addition, the strong winds, and heavy snow in some areas, knocked down trees and power lines, resulting in power outages. Daily Maximum Temperature Records (°F) Station Date New Previous Providence, RI 24 64 60 in 1990 Caribou, ME 25 48 48 in 2003 Providence, RI 25 63 63 in 1964 Daily Minimum Temperature Records (°F) Station Date New Previous Caribou, ME 5 -13 -13 in 1972 Daily High Minimum Temperature Records (°F) Station Date New Previous Caribou, ME 11 35 34 in 1999 Portland, ME 25 38 38 in 1979 Hartford, CT 25 43 42 in 1987 Boston, MA 25 44 43 in 1888 Concord, NH 28 36 36 in 1907 Daily High Average Temperature Records (°F) Station Date New Previous Bridgeport, CT 24 49.5 47.5 in 1996 Providence, RI 24 53.0 49.5 in 1941 Daily Precipitation Records (inches) Station Date New Previous Burlington, VT 9 0.80 0.67 in 1896 Concord, NH 9 1.08 1.00 in 2009 Hartford, CT 9 1.77 1.33 in 1978 Portland, ME 9 1.95 1.38 in 1973 Bridgeport, CT 9 2.13 1.45 in 1978 Providence, RI 9 2.74 1.55 in 1978 Boston, MA 9 2.90 1.29 in 1956 Caribou, ME 10 1.17 1.14 in 1957 Caribou, ME 18 0.83 0.76 in 1975 3 Daily Snowfall Records (inches) Station Date New Previous Burlington, VT 10 9.4 4.7 in 1906 4 The 2014 Values depicted on these graphs are based on preliminary data. 5 DAILY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AND THE 30-YEAR NORMAL 6 Observed daily maximum and minimum temperatures are connected by dark blue bars. Area between normal max and min temperatures has tan shading. Red line connects record high temperatures. Light blue line connects record low temperatures. 7 MONTHLY TEMPERATURE MAPS 8 MONTHLY PRECIPITATION MAPS 9 MONTHLY SNOWFALL MAPS 10 PRELIMINARY MONTHLY SUMMARIZED DATA DECEMBER 2014 TEMPERATURE (F) PRECIPITATION (INCHES) STATION MONTHLY AVERAGES EXTREMES NUMBER OF DAYS MONTHLY TOTALS EXTREMES SNOWFALL AVG AVG MON DEPRT MON DAY MON DAY MAX MIN MON DEPRT DAYS DLY DAY MON DLY DAY MAX MIN AVG MAX MIN 50+ 32- 32- 0- TOT 0.1+ MAX TOT MAX -CT: NORTHWEST- BARKHAMSTED 40.5 27.0 33.7 57 2 11 31 7 4 26 0 4.43 8 2.16 10 0 FALLS VILLAGE 39.8 27.5 33.7 61 25 12 31 4 4 25 0 NM NORFOLK 2 SW 35.6 25.1 30.3 57 25 11 8 2 14 27 0 4.96 9 2.12 10 4.4 2.4 11 TORRINGTON 5.19 9 2.21 10 NM THOMASTON DAM 42.9 27.5 35.2 57 25+ 14 31 6 1 26 0 5.19 9 2.11 10 -DIVISION- 33.2 4.4 4.86 0.85 2.2 -CT: CENTRAL- DANBURY 41.7 30.2 36.0 60 25 17 31+ 5 4 21 0 5.87 8 2.86 9 1.6 0.7 11 HAMPTON 42.5 27.3 34.9 64 2 10 31 5 4 28 0 4.82 8 1.46 10 T T HARTFORD BRAINARD 4.57 8 1.90 10 NM HARTFORD BRADLEY I 42.0 29.3 35.7 62 1 13 31 6 3 20 0 4.55 9 1.77 9 0.7 0.6 21 MIDDLETOWN 4 W 42.1 28.5 35.3 65 2 16 31 7 4 26 0 NM NORWICH PUB UTIL * 45.4 31.2 38.3 65 2 20 31 SAUGATUCK RSVR 43.2 29.6 36.4 63 2 16 31 7 2 23 0 NM SHUTTLE MEADOW RES 3.0 1.5 11+ STAFFORDVILLE 40.4 25.9 33.1 60 25 9 31 4 6 28 0 STORRS 40.6 28.4 34.5 62 2 16 8 4 5 22 0 3.94 9 1.22 10 WEST HARTFORD 41.9 29.0 35.5 63 2 15 9+ 6 3 22 0 NM WEST THOMPSON LAKE 42.1 27.4 34.8 62 2 10 31 5 2 27 0 4.63 7 1.51 10 0 HARTFORD BRAINARD 41.7 29.5 35.6 63 1 18 8 6 3 19 0 4.56 10 1.91 9 NM -DIVISION- 35.5 4.0 4.73 0.54 0.6 -CT: COASTAL- BRIDGEPORT SIKORSK 44.9 33.2 39.0 62 1 20 30 7 0 14 0 5.65 8 2.13 9 0.7 0.7 11 BRIDGEPORT-SUCCESS 45.1 31.2 38.2 63 2 18 31 8 2 20 0 5.70 8 2.31 10 GROTON 45.5 32.8 39.1 67 1 19 31 9 2 17 0 5.48 10 2.08 9 NM NEW HAVEN TWEED AP 46.1 33.5 39.8 63 1 18 31 8 0 13 0 4.54 7 1.70 9 NM STAMFORD 5 N 43.7 30.2 37.0 63 2 19 31 7 2 23 0 NM -DIVISION- 38.6 3.9 5.34 1.40 0.7 -STATE- 35.5 4.0 4.85 0.73 0.9 -MA: WESTERN- LENOX DALE 36.9 24.8 30.8 58 25 10 31 1 7 27 0 6.58 12 2.24 10 6.5 5.1 11 NORTH ADAMS HARRIM 37.4 26.2 31.8 64 25 10 31 2 8 23 0 3.33 9 0.84 9 NM PITTSFIELD MUNI AP 35.2 25.1 30.2 59 25 9 31 1 11 27 0 3.75 10 1.03 9 NM WORTHINGTON 36.7 23.2 30.0 53 25 8 31 2 7 27 0 5.69 8 2.08 10 6.5 3.0 11 ASHFIELD 2 NE 36.1 24.0 30.0