Planalytics’ 2015 YearEnd Lookback Report for Ag
CLIENT REPORT
Issued: January 14, 2016
2015: Second Warmest Year on Record — and the Third Wettest! Since 1895, the National Weather Service of the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) has maintained weather records from across the country. Each month, they rank, by state, how warm or cold, wet or dry that period was against all previous years. In an unusual twist, 2015 turned out to be one of the warmest and the wettest ever in the past 121 years. Looking Back at Weather’s Impact on U.S. Agriculture in 2015 January and February brought a very cold trend to the interior of the country and eastern states. Although drier overall, more snow and ice episodes occurred as a result. Winter Wheat areas were challenged by a lack of appreciable moisture and increasing drought. The lack of consistent snow cover also produced winter kill in some areas. Spring planting season saw strong regional differences. While planting came earlier than typical for producers in many Corn Belt states such as Minnesota, the Dakotas, Nebraska and Iowa, a cooler and considerably wetter trend affected growers from Texas northward across a broad area of the eastern Corn Belt. Parts of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio experienced delays of 2-3 weeks. The early growing season saw considerable challenges due to weather. Specifically, a persistently wet pattern that initially brought record rainfall to Texas and Oklahoma in May extended north and east from Kansas to Ohio into the month of June. Particularly hard hit was Missouri, which experienced significant delays in soybean planting and post-planting field work challenges given the very wet conditions. In the areas impacted most, replant and prevent plant acres were considerable; delays in wheat harvest were also widespread due to too wet fields. Despite those early season challenges, the primary growing season was one of little weather-related stress during critical production stages. Temperatures in the July-August corn pollination period averaged cooler than normal and along with adequate precipitation proved beneficial for corn and soybean yield projections. Elsewhere, western agriculture was strongly challenged by record heat and drought conditions for the fourth consecutive year. Overall, the summer crop harvest season was warm – warmer to much warmer than typical – for nearly all growing regions. This was beneficial in finishing crops, particularly in those areas where late planting and replanting was prevalent. The drier trend, while providing some challenges to late stage development, allowed for little field work restriction By late December, the El Niño phenomenon that had continued to build in strength and influence throughout the year, reached its peak intensity, matching the 1997-98 episode as the strongest ever recorded. As a result, the optimistic moisture outlook for the parched western states came to fruition. Frequent Pacific storms were the rule from mid-November to year-end that brought above normal rainfall and copious mountain snow. While still early in the winter season, 2015 ended with the West on track to have its best moisture accumulation in four years. While not totally reversing the epic drought, there is the potential to help replenish soil moisture and reservoirs ahead of the 2016 growing season.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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January – December 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Nationally in the U.S., the average temperature in the January through December 2015 calendar year (54.40°F) ended as the 2nd warmest calendar year experienced in 121 years, going back to 1895. It lagged only the 2012 calendar year. Every state in the “Lower 48” had a yearly temperature that averaged above to much above normal with the strongest (record) warm anomalies in the Pacific Northwest, and also in Florida. While still warmer than normal, anomalies were slightly less warm from Texas into the Northeast. Nationally in the U.S., the precipitation average in the January through December 2015 calendar year (34.47 inches) ended as the 3rd wettest on record. Only 1973 and 1983 had wetter years. Above average precipitation was observed for most states, with the wettest anomalies in interior states. It was the wettest year ever for both Texas and Oklahoma. The drier than normal regions were limited to the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, along with California.
NOTE: Numbers represent a state’s ranking against NOAA’s 121 years of records. For example, 2015 was the 107th warmest year on record in Texas and the 121st wettest.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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December 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., December 2015 (38.6°F average) was record warm for the month, breaking the previous record set in 1939. Exceptionally anomalous warmth overspread the eastern half of the country, resulting in a record warm December for 29 states. Seasonal temperatures were focused in the West with near average temperatures throughout the region. No state was record cold. Averaged across the U.S., precipitation in December 2015 (3.93 inches average) ranked wettest on record. This surpassed the previous record set in 1982. Above average precipitation was observed throughout the country. 23 states measured much wetter than average, focused in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Central Plains and South Atlantic. Iowa and Wisconsin were record wet for the month.
Significant Weather Events* • • • •
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A lake effect event brought snow to the Northeast from the 19th – 20th of December. This resulted in up to 3 feet of snow to the east of Lake Ontario, and up to a foot of snow east of Lake Erie and was the only lake effect event for the region. The 12th-14th brought record breaking the across the Midwest. The end of the month also saw significantly above normal temperatures: On the 27 th Most of Kentucky and Southeast Ohio were between 65-77F˚. In the Midwest, the most notable December event occurred from the 26 th-29th, bringing heavy snowfall to Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan. The same system brought torrential rainfall to the mid-Mississippi valley, namely Missouri, Illinois, and western Kentucky. Moderate to major flooding ran rampant in Illinois and Missouri, with moderate flooding in parts of Kentucky and Indiana. Missouri was worst hit, especially around St. Louis and St. Charles counties. The flooding resulted in hundreds of water rescues, interstate closures, extensive damage, and fatalities throughout the region. Winter Storm Goliath, plowed into parts of the southwest and Southern Plains on ….Goliath brought heavy snow, strong winds, and bitter cold to New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, western Oklahoma and west Texas. As of December 29th, 18.7% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, down from 20.6% at the beginning of the month. Record and near record precipitation in the Pacific Northwest resulted in dramatic improvement for the region. Parts of the Central Plains and Upper Midwest also saw drought diminish. Drought conditions expanded in portions of the Great Lakes and Northeast.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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November 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., November 2015 temperatures (44.7°F average) were the 13th warmest in the 121 year period of record. Warmer than average temperatures blanketed the eastern half of the country, with 37 states trending warmer than average. New Jersey recorded its warmest November in 121 years. Cooler than average conditions were confined to the West, with Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah all recording below average November temperatures. Nationally, November 2015 was the 4th wettest on record (3.3 inches average precipitation). Above average precipitation was focused across the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast. Arkansas and Missouri had their wettest November on record. Below average precipitation was observed across the Northeast, with New York and Vermont much drier than normal. Most of the West saw near normal conditions.
Significant Weather Events* •
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Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend (November 26-29) featured above normal temperatures and was the warmest since 2012. The warmest conditions were in the South Atlantic and East South Central. Cold was focused in the West, with the Pacific and Mountain regions trending the coldest for the weekend since 2010. Precipitation was the most since 2000, driven by interior regions. During week 4, leading into the Black Friday weekend, a snow and ice storm impacted the Rockies, Southern Plains, and Midwest. Parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri were most affected with crippling ice, snow, and freezing rain. On November 11-13 a storm system brought heavy snow to the Rockies, central Plains, northern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota. Severe weather, featuring hail, high winds, and 62 confirmed tornadoes moved through the Plains and Deep South on the 16th and 17th. Early in week 3 of November, a major storm brought snow to the Sierra Nevada Mountains before moving eastward and bringing blizzard conditions to Colorado. Denver recorded its snowiest 3rd week of November since 1994. Late in week 3, a separate storm brought significant snow to the upper Midwest. Chicago recorded 11.2”, and Detroit recorded 6”. This resulted in their snowiest week 3 of November in over 55 years, despite the warm conditions that were experienced throughout the month. Overall, November snowfall was 63% below last year due to the warmer than normal temperatures, inhibiting snowfall. As of December 1st, 20.6% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, down approximately 5.6% from the beginning of November. Drought conditions diminished across parts of the southern Plains and Mississippi River Valley. Large improvement was also seen across western Washington. Drought remains entrenched in interior regions of the Northwest, and much of California and Nevada.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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October 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., October 2015 (57.4°F average) temperatures resulted in the 4th warmest October in the 121 year period of record. The warmest anomalies were concentrated in the western half of the country, with 13 states from the Great Plains to the Pacific Coast experiencing their top ten warmest Octobers on record. Much of the Midwest and Deep South were above average. Near average October temperatures were observed through the Southeast and Northeast. Maine was the only state to record below average temperatures. Nationally, October 2015 precipitation (2.75 inches average) was above average and the 20th wettest on record. Above average precipitation was observed across the southern half of the country, stretching from the Southwest through the Southern Plains, and into parts of Southeast. Below average precipitation was observed in Oregon, Florida, Illinois, and Missouri.
Significant Weather Events* • • • •
• • • •
Columbus Day was the warmest since 2007 driven by heat in the West. It was also the driest Columbus Day since 2002. Halloween was warmer than last year with cooler than normal conditions focused across the Northeast. Rainfall was above last year and normal, focused in interior regions. Houston had its wettest Halloween since 1974; New Orleans since 1979. On Sunday the 11th, the Northern Plains experienced record heat, with temperatures soaring above 90°F in many locations. Fargo, ND set an impressive record, reaching 97°F; Norfolk, NE reached 98°F. From October 1st – 5th a strong low pressure system combined with remnants of Hurricane Joaquin (which did not make U.S. landfall), and brought historic rainfall to the Carolinas. Rain totals of 15-20 inches were wide spread, with over 25 inches reported around Charleston, SC. Significant flooding resulted in over 400 road closures, including interstate highways. On October 15th thunderstorms north of Los Angeles caused flooding and mudslides, which resulted in parts of Interstate 5 being closed. Hurricane Patricia was named the strongest Pacific Hurricane ever in the Western Hemisphere. While Patricia did not make U.S. landfall, it did result in destructive flooding across Texas in October week 3. Patricia’s remnants also led to the wettest end to October in over 55 years. The Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley received heavy rainfall; Louisiana and Texas (yet again) saw significant flooding. As indicated in the November 3rd U.S. Drought monitor report, 26.2% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, down 5.2% since September 29th. Dramatic improvement was seen across parts of the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi River Valley, due to the extreme rainfall in late October. Parts of the Southeast and Northwest also saw drought improvement. Conditions worsened across parts of the Central Plains and Midwest, and remained entrenched in the West.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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September 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., September 2015 (68.5°F average) temperatures were the 2nd warmest on record, only 0.5°F below the 1998 record. 30 states saw above average temperatures for the month. Nine states had record warmth; Connecticut, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wisconsin. The Southeast and Pacific Northwest were the only regions that experienced near average temperatures. Nationally, U.S. September 2015 precipitation (2.09 inches average) was below average and the 21st driest out of the 121 year period of record. Above average precipitation was observed in parts of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. Below average precipitation was observed across the South Central region, portions of the Rockies, and the lower Mississippi River Valley.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • • • • •
Labor Day in the U.S. was the warmest since 2012. On September 4th, widespread thunderstorms developed across the Carolinas and Virginia, resulting in 52 severe weather reports for the day. Two heavy precipitation events impacted the Northeast during September, each dropping over 8” of rain locally, causing flash flooding. The first was on September 10th-11th in the Mid-Atlantic and up the East Coast. The second event spanned September 20th-30th and was due in part to Hurricane Joaquin. Hurricane Joaquin did not make landfall; however, brought significant rainfall to the East Coast in the last week of the month. The South Atlantic states were the heaviest hit with parts of South Carolina receiving over 20” of rain, which caused historic and devastating flooding. Remnants of Hurricane Linda brought heavy rainfall to the Southwest on September 14th-15th. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Salt Lake City were all wettest for the 3rd week of September in over 55 years. September 23rd-24th saw record amounts of rain in Omaha, Nebraska resulting in street flooding, power outages, and school closings. September was the most active month of the tropical season. Despite no direct landfall, six Atlantic storms and eight Pacific storms drove demand for emergency preparedness items. As of September 29th, 31.4 percent of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up one percent since September 1st. Areas of the Southwest and Southeast saw conditions improve, most notably in South Florida. Drought worsened across portions of the Northeast, while extreme drought expanded in the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi River Valley. Long-term drought conditions continued in the West.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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August 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Nationally, August 2015 (73.0°F average) temperatures were the 31st warmest on record for the month and slightly above the 121 year average. While no state experienced record warmth for August, in the West, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington all trended much warmer than average. In the East, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island were also much warmer than average. Below-average August temperatures were focused across the Central Plains and Ohio Valley. Across the U.S., August 2015 precipitation (2.36 inches average) was slightly below average and 28th driest on record for the month. Drier than average conditions were observed through much of the Northeast, and parts of the South and West. Connecticut and Louisiana were much drier than average. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Indiana were all wetter than average. South Dakota was much wetter than average for the month.
Significant Weather Events • • • • •
•
Hurricane Danny became the first major hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic season during the 3 rd week of the month. Hurricane Erika and Tropical Storm Fred formed in the last week of the month. Hurricane Erika threatened to make landfall in the Southeast, driving purchases of emergency preparedness items. Although Erica dissipated off shore, her remnants brought heavy rainfall to Florida and the Carolina coast at the end of the (calendar) month. Charleston, SC was impacted by two significant rainfall events during the month, including a flash flood emergency in the downtown area on the 18 th. On August 31st, the Charleston International Airport recorded its fifth wettest day on record (since 1938). The Pacific basin saw 7 storms during August, including major hurricanes Kilo, Ignacio, and Jimena. While impacts were limited, this was the first time on record that 3 major hurricanes were simultaneously active in the Pacific basin. The significant drought in the Northwest continued to contribute to large and destructive fires throughout the region. The blazes ravaged hundreds of thousands of acres in Idaho, western Montana, Oregon, Washington, and northern California. Residents and wildlife have been displaced, homes and resources damaged, and recreation disrupted. As of September 1st, 30.4% of the contiguous U.S. was reported to be in drought, up 3.3% since late July. Conditions worsened across parts of the Northwest, Northeast, and Southeast. Much of the South Central also saw worsening drought conditions. Parts of the Central Plains received some drought relief.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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July 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • •
• • •
Averaged across the U.S., July 2015 (73.9°F average) temperatures were close to the median of the 121 year period of record. Below average temperatures spanned from the Southwest into the Central Plains and the East North Central region. Warmer than average conditions were concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, Texas, the Southeast, and the Northeast Coast. Washington was 4th warmest on record for the month; Louisiana 3rd warmest. Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina were also much warmer than average. Averaged across the U.S., July 2015 precipitation (3.16 inches average) was the 14th most on record, and the fourth consecutive month of above average precipitation for the contiguous U.S. Much of the West, Plains, and Ohio Valley received above average precipitation. California, Nevada, New Mexico, Missouri, Indiana, and West Virginia were all much wetter than average. Kentucky was the wettest on record for the month. Below average precipitation was recorded in Washington, Michigan, Connecticut, and parts of the Southeast. Louisiana was 9th driest for the month.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • • •
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Thunderstorms across the Southwest from July 7th – 9th led to urban flash flooding in multiple locales, including Reno, Nevada and Boise, Idaho. On July 12th-13th, a large thunderstorm complex resulted in over 900 severe weather reports from Minnesota to North Carolina. Severe weather struck the Northeast multiple times in July. On the 10 th, strong storms throughout the Mid-Atlantic states caused widespread damage and power outages that lasted several days. The central Midwest (including Kentucky) was impacted by flash flooding during the month. On the 13th, flood waters affected hundreds of homes and claimed lives in Kentucky and Indiana. On July 18th, flash flooding resulted in fatalities in Ohio. Over July 18th-20th, the remnants of Hurricane Dolores led to record rainfall for Southern California, including LA and San Diego. Flash flooding was significant and included the destruction of a busy bridge on Interstate Highway 10. Rainfall did little to help the drought conditions or wildfires. July saw several large wildfires from northern California to Montana, 12 of which were still burning in California at month’s end. The California Governor declared a state of emergency. One of the largest blazes was the Rocky Fire in northern California, which destroyed multiple homes and nearly 20,000 acres by the end of July. As of August 4th, 27.1% of the U.S. was in drought, up slightly since the end of June (according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report). Parts of the Southwest and Northeast saw the drought improve. California continues to face extreme conditions, with 46% of the state experiencing the worst category of drought.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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June 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., June 2015 (71.4°F average) temperatures were the 2 nd warmest on record, merely 0.2°F below the 1933 all-time record for the month. Warmer than average temperatures overspread most of the country with the strongest anomalies concentrated in the West and Southeast Coast. 16 states averaged much warmer than normal with California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington each having experienced record warmth for June. Cooler than normal temperatures were featured in Michigan and in New England. Averaged across the U.S., June 2015 (3.53 inches average) precipitation was the 9th highest on record for the month and the third consecutive month of above average precipitation for the contiguous U.S. Wetter than average conditions encompassed the Northeast, East North Central, parts of the Plains and the Southwest.15 States were much wetter than average; Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio saw record precipitation totals (more than twice the 20 th century average). Drier than normal conditions were recorded in the Northwest; Washington has its 3 rd driest June, Oregon its 9th.
Significant Weather Events* •
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June 2015 was the warmest June in the U.S. in over 55 years with heat focused in the West. The Pacific region trended warmest in 55+ years during weeks 2 and 5; week 3 was warmest since 1985, week 4 since 1992. The South Atlantic region trended warmest in 55+ years during week 3 and the Mountain region had its warmest end to June in over 55 years. The West South Central region was coolest since 2007. The New England, Mid-Atlantic, and East North Central regions were all coolest since 2009. Nationally, June 2015 was the wettest month in over 55 years. In week 1, the Mountain region had its wettest start to June since 2009 while heavy rain impacted major markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Week 3 was the wettest in 55+ years across the Mid-Atlantic, East North Central, and West South Central regions. The month ended with its wettest week 5 in over 30 years for the U.S. Father’s Day in the U.S. was the warmest in 55+ years, and the wettest since 2007. On June 16th Tropical storm Bill became the 2nd named storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding to east Texas and Oklahoma. Remnants of Bill brought heavy rain and severe weather through the Ohio Valley and Northeast late June week 3. June week 4 saw high winds through the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Southeast, leaving thousands without power for days. 60 tornadoes were reported, including 25 in northern Illinois on June 22nd. As of June 30th, 25.9% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up 1.3% since the beginning of June. The Southwest, Upper Midwest, and the Northeast saw drought improvement, while conditions in the Northwest and Southeast worsened. California continues to experience the worst category of drought (D4, exceptional) across 46.7% of the state.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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May 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., May 2015 (60.8°F average) temperatures were near the median value in the 121-year record. Above average temperatures were prevalent throughout the East, with 15 states much warmer than average for the month. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island were all record warm. The Northwest also saw above average conditions. Below average temperatures overspread the Great Plains and Southern Rockies. The U.S. saw above average precipitation for May 2015 (4.36 inches average), making it the wettest of any month on record. Wetter than average conditions engulfed the central U.S., with 15 states from the great Basin to the Mississippi River seeing much above average precipitation. Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas each had their wettest May on record; Oklahoma and Texas were wettest on record for any month. Drier than average conditions spanned much of the East Coast; South Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut received much below average precipitation.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • • • • • • •
Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10th) was warmest since 2004. Memorial Day Weekend (May 23-25) was warmer than normal along the East and West Coasts with cooler temperatures and severe weather through the Central Plains, Rockies, and Southwest. Memorial Day was warmer than normal and wettest since 2004 due to the heavy rain in the South Central. Temperatures across the U.S. were coolest since 2011, but warmer than normal. Warmth was focused in the East, while cooler temperatures were focused in the central U.S. The New England region was warmest for the month in 55+ years; the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic since 1991. The West North Central, West South Central, and Mountain regions were coolest since 2011. Late season snow fell during weeks 1 and 3 in Denver, the Rockies, and parts of the Northeast. Record rainfall was seen in all four weeks, resulting in the wettest (retail) May since 1968 and the wettest month ever for Texas and Oklahoma. Northern Texas and Southern Oklahoma were the wettest regions. In week 1 Oklahoma City and the Mountain region saw the most rain in 55+ years; week 2 was wettest on record for San Diego and Phoenix. Week 3 initiated extreme rainfall across the West South Central, carrying into a record setting week 4 as well as total May; Dallas had its wettest 4th week of May in over 55 years. Flooding was disruptive and destructive across the South Central during the final 2 weeks of the month. Flash flooding devastated Houston on Memorial Day Weekend, flooding highways, homes and leaving thousands without power. Tropical Storm Ana brought heavy rain and high winds to the Carolina coasts during May week 1. As of June 2nd 24.6% of the U.S. was in drought, down from 37.4% at the end of April, and the smallest drought footprint since February 2011. Dramatic improvement was seen in the Southern Plains and to a lesser extent across the Central and Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Central Rockies. Drought worsened across parts of the Northeast, Southeast, and Northwest and remained embedded in the West.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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April 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., April 2015 (53.1°F average) temperatures were the 17th warmest on record. Above average temperatures encompassed much of the contiguous U.S., with near average conditions in the Northeast, as well as Michigan, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and New Mexico. Warmth was focused in the Southeast. Florida experienced its warmest April on record; Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina were much above average. The U.S. saw above average precipitation for April 2015 (2.78 inches average), and was the 37th wettest April on record. Wetter than average conditions were observed from the Southern Plains into the Southeast and Ohio Valley. Kentucky, Louisiana, and West Virginia saw precipitation much above average. Kentucky had its 2nd wettest April on record. Drier than average conditions spanned California, much of the Northwest and Northern Plains, and into the Northeast. The dry trend continued in South Dakota, with April 2015 ranking 11 th driest on record.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • • • • • •
Week 1 was cooler than LY but warmer than normal, while week 3 was cooler than LY and normal. Week 2 was the warmest since 2012 in the U.S., and week 4 trended warmer than both LY and normal. The East South Central region was warmest for the month in 4 years with the South Atlantic region much above normal. Miami and Orlando had their warmest April in over 55 years, Tampa was warmest since 1991. Atlanta, Nashville, and New Orleans were warmest since 2011, Minneapolis since 2010. Boston and the entire New England region saw the coolest April since 2003. The West South Central region was wettest since 2004. Buffalo and Minneapolis were driest since 2005. April saw more than 1,400 confirmed severe weather reports, the most so far this year. The core of the activity was in weeks 2 and 3, with reports tapering off for week 4. Severe weather was active in the Midwest, with the most significant event occurring April 8th- 9th. There were over 700 reports of hail, wind, and tornadoes across the country, many in the Midwest. April 9th brought seven tornadoes through north-central Illinois; the most devastating tornado was an EF-4. The Southern Plains encountered severe weather throughout the month. April 24th brought over a dozen tornadoes across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. On April 27th, damaging winds passed through Baton Rouge leaving over 50,000 people without power. Through mid-April, West Virginia saw numerous road closures due to river and flash flooding, as well as mudslides resulting from heavy rain. On April 9th, winds reaching 80 mph caused damage in western Pennsylvania and baseball-sized hail was recorded in western West Virginia. As of April 28th 37.4% of the U.S. was in drought, up 0.6% since the previous report on March 31st. Conditions worsened across parts of the Northwest, Northern Plains, and Upper Midwest. Extreme drought remains in the West, while the Southern Plains and central Gulf Coast saw some improvement in both long-term and short-term drought conditions.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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March 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., March 2015 (45.4°F average) temperatures were the 12th warmest on record. Temperatures much above average occurred in 15 states including Florida and states across the Northern Plains, and West. Five states in New England had a March temperature that was well below normal. Massachusetts and Rhode Island each had a top 10 coldest March. Averaged across the U.S., precipitation in March 2015 (2.08 inches average) was below average and was tied for the 19th driest March on record. Above average precipitation was observed from the Southern Plains into the Ohio Valley. Both Arkansas and Texas were much wetter than normal, with Texas experiencing its 4th wettest March on record. Below average precipitation was observed across the Northern Tier and both the East and West Coasts, with the driest anomalies focused in the Central and Northern Plains. Nebraska and South Dakota were each 2nd driest on record for March, Iowa 3rd driest, and California 8th driest.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • • • •
• •
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) was warmest since 2012, while Easter (April 5) was coldest since 2009. Easter conditions were drier than normal but wetter than Easter last year (April 20). On a national level, the first week of the month was coldest since 1996, while weeks 2 through 5 were the warmest since the record warmth of March 2012. All regions trended warmer than last year, with the Pacific region warmest in over 55 years during weeks 2-4. The Mountain region saw record warmth during week 3. LA, Sacramento, San Diego, Phoenix, and Orlando were all warmest in 55+ years. Seattle, Portland, OR, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and Miami were each 2nd warmest in 55+ years. In the East, Boston experienced its coldest March since 1984; Philadelphia since 2005. Boston surpassed its all-time seasonal snowfall record as totals topped 110 inches during the second week of March. Week 1 of March brought the most March snowfall to the West South Central in 55+ years, East South Central in 5 years, and Mid-Atlantic in 10 years. Philly, NYC, DC, and Baltimore broke 12 year old daily records during week 1. Chicago had its most March week 4 snowfall since 1983; Minneapolis since 1996. NYC set a daily snowfall record (4.6”) on the 1st day of spring (March 20). Severe weather season experienced its latest start since 1970. Events only picked up in weeks 4 and 5, with over 30 Tornadoes and 500 hail reports. As of March 31st, 36.8% of the U.S. was in drought, up 4.9% since the beginning of the month. Drought conditions worsened across parts of the Central Rockies as well as the Central and Northern Plains, and the Upper Midwest. Drought remains steadfast in the West, with many locations in the Cascades and Sierras showing record low snowpack. There were drought improvements in the Southern Plains and the mid-to lower- Mississippi River Valley.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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February 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • •
• • •
Averaged across the U.S., February 2015 temperatures (33.1°F average) were near normal for the 121year period of record, although strong regional trends were prevalent. Warmer than average temperatures were recorded in the western U.S. where 8 states had a top 10 warm February. California, Arizona, Utah, and Washington each had their warmest February on record. Areas from the Mississippi River to the East Coast experienced colder than normal temperatures for the month, with 23 states recording their top ten coldest February. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and all states in New England had their 2nd coldest February in 121 years. Averaged across the U.S., precipitation in February 2015 (1.70 inches average) ranked as the 20th driest February in the 121-year period of record. Most locations across the contiguous U.S. had near to below-average monthly precipitation. Colorado was the only state that had above average precipitation for the month.
Significant Weather Events*
Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) was the coldest since 2010. President’s Day (Feb. 16) was the coldest since 1979 with the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and East North Central regions coldest in over 55 years. Driven by temperatures in the East, this February was the coldest for the U.S. since 1989, with its coldest final week of February in over 55 years. The New England and Mid-Atlantic regions experienced record breaking temperatures, having their coldest February in over 55 years. The East North Central had its 2nd coldest; the East South Central 3rd coldest. NYC, Boston, Baltimore, Detroit, and Pittsburgh were all coldest in 55+ years. Chicago, Cleveland, and Buffalo had their coldest February on record. The Pacific region had its warmest February in over 55 years; the Mountain region since 1995. San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Portland, OR each had their warmest February in 55+ years. Snowfall in the U.S. trended 15% below LY, although significantly above normal. U.S. snowfall was focused in New England with Boston (65 inches in Feb.) and Denver experiencing their snowiest February on record; Chicago and Buffalo 3rd snowiest. Boston had its snowiest month ever recorded. January 31-February 2 brought heavy snow to the Midwest. Chicago received 16.2 inches on February 1st making it the 2nd highest single day snowfall for Chicago of all time. On February 25th-26th a Winter storm dropped over 8 inches of snow across parts of the Southeast. Another major snowstorm impacted the Midwest late on February 28th into March 1st. This was the fourth major snowstorm to impact the Midwest in 30 days. As of March 3rd, 31.9% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up from 28.4% at the beginning of February. Conditions improved in parts of the West and the Ohio Valley, while they worsened across parts of the central Rockies, Southern Plains, and central Gulf Coast.
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January 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., January 2015 (33.0°F average) temperatures were the 24th warmest on record. Warmer than average temperatures were recorded from the West Coast, through the Rockies, and into the Northern Plains. California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming all had a top 10 warmest January. Areas in the Northeast and South Central experienced cooler than normal temperatures for the month. Averaged across the U.S., precipitation in January 2015 (1.75 inches average) ranked as the 18th driest January in the 121-year period of record. Overall, the majority of the U.S. was drier than average. The West, Central Plains, Midwest, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic were especially dry. California, Oregon, Wyoming, and Nebraska, recorded their top 10 driest January. Parts of the Southwest, South Central, and Mid-Atlantic were all wetter than average.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • •
• • •
Nationally, January temperatures in the U.S. were the warmest since 2012, driven by mild conditions in the West. Temperature trends fluctuated by week and by region. Week 1 was the coldest start to January in 5 years, with Chicago, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh all coldest since 1988. Cold temperatures continued into week 2 as all U.S. regions trended colder than last year for the week. Nationally, weeks 3 and 4 saw a shift to warmer temperatures. Locations in the West trended warmer; San Diego had its warmest January in over 50 years. Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Sacramento were each warmest since 2003. Snow, sleet, and ice blanketed the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast during the weekend of week 3. While amounts were mostly light to moderate, record snowfall was still reported throughout the region, including New York City. A storm during week 4 brought up to 3 feet of snow, accompanied by coastal flooding, and high wind gusts of 50-78 mph to New England, making it their snowiest end to the month in over 50 years. Boston and Pittsburgh also had their most snowfall to end January in over 50 years. The storm was given a category 3 rating for the Northeast. This January had the 18th smallest snow cover extent for the month in the 49-year period of record. Snow coverage for the contiguous U.S. was measured at 1.3 million square miles; 75,000 square miles less than the 1981-2010 average (according to analysis of NOAA data by the Rutgers Global Snow Lab). Drought continued in California with a precipitation total for the month of 0.68 inches, 3.57 inches below average. This was the third consecutive January to have well below average precipitation, and was the fourth driest on record for the state. For the first time on record, San Francisco received no measurable January precipitation. Despite January typically being the wettest month of the year for California, several other cities were record dry.
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Issued: January 14, 2016
2015: Second Warmest Year on Record — and the Third Wettest! Since 1895, the National Weather Service of the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) has maintained weather records from across the country. Each month, they rank, by state, how warm or cold, wet or dry that period was against all previous years. In an unusual twist, 2015 turned out to be one of the warmest and the wettest ever in the past 121 years. Looking Back at Weather’s Impact on U.S. Agriculture in 2015 January and February brought a very cold trend to the interior of the country and eastern states. Although drier overall, more snow and ice episodes occurred as a result. Winter Wheat areas were challenged by a lack of appreciable moisture and increasing drought. The lack of consistent snow cover also produced winter kill in some areas. Spring planting season saw strong regional differences. While planting came earlier than typical for producers in many Corn Belt states such as Minnesota, the Dakotas, Nebraska and Iowa, a cooler and considerably wetter trend affected growers from Texas northward across a broad area of the eastern Corn Belt. Parts of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio experienced delays of 2-3 weeks. The early growing season saw considerable challenges due to weather. Specifically, a persistently wet pattern that initially brought record rainfall to Texas and Oklahoma in May extended north and east from Kansas to Ohio into the month of June. Particularly hard hit was Missouri, which experienced significant delays in soybean planting and post-planting field work challenges given the very wet conditions. In the areas impacted most, replant and prevent plant acres were considerable; delays in wheat harvest were also widespread due to too wet fields. Despite those early season challenges, the primary growing season was one of little weather-related stress during critical production stages. Temperatures in the July-August corn pollination period averaged cooler than normal and along with adequate precipitation proved beneficial for corn and soybean yield projections. Elsewhere, western agriculture was strongly challenged by record heat and drought conditions for the fourth consecutive year. Overall, the summer crop harvest season was warm – warmer to much warmer than typical – for nearly all growing regions. This was beneficial in finishing crops, particularly in those areas where late planting and replanting was prevalent. The drier trend, while providing some challenges to late stage development, allowed for little field work restriction By late December, the El Niño phenomenon that had continued to build in strength and influence throughout the year, reached its peak intensity, matching the 1997-98 episode as the strongest ever recorded. As a result, the optimistic moisture outlook for the parched western states came to fruition. Frequent Pacific storms were the rule from mid-November to year-end that brought above normal rainfall and copious mountain snow. While still early in the winter season, 2015 ended with the West on track to have its best moisture accumulation in four years. While not totally reversing the epic drought, there is the potential to help replenish soil moisture and reservoirs ahead of the 2016 growing season.
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January – December 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Nationally in the U.S., the average temperature in the January through December 2015 calendar year (54.40°F) ended as the 2nd warmest calendar year experienced in 121 years, going back to 1895. It lagged only the 2012 calendar year. Every state in the “Lower 48” had a yearly temperature that averaged above to much above normal with the strongest (record) warm anomalies in the Pacific Northwest, and also in Florida. While still warmer than normal, anomalies were slightly less warm from Texas into the Northeast. Nationally in the U.S., the precipitation average in the January through December 2015 calendar year (34.47 inches) ended as the 3rd wettest on record. Only 1973 and 1983 had wetter years. Above average precipitation was observed for most states, with the wettest anomalies in interior states. It was the wettest year ever for both Texas and Oklahoma. The drier than normal regions were limited to the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, along with California.
NOTE: Numbers represent a state’s ranking against NOAA’s 121 years of records. For example, 2015 was the 107th warmest year on record in Texas and the 121st wettest.
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December 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., December 2015 (38.6°F average) was record warm for the month, breaking the previous record set in 1939. Exceptionally anomalous warmth overspread the eastern half of the country, resulting in a record warm December for 29 states. Seasonal temperatures were focused in the West with near average temperatures throughout the region. No state was record cold. Averaged across the U.S., precipitation in December 2015 (3.93 inches average) ranked wettest on record. This surpassed the previous record set in 1982. Above average precipitation was observed throughout the country. 23 states measured much wetter than average, focused in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Central Plains and South Atlantic. Iowa and Wisconsin were record wet for the month.
Significant Weather Events* • • • •
• •
A lake effect event brought snow to the Northeast from the 19th – 20th of December. This resulted in up to 3 feet of snow to the east of Lake Ontario, and up to a foot of snow east of Lake Erie and was the only lake effect event for the region. The 12th-14th brought record breaking the across the Midwest. The end of the month also saw significantly above normal temperatures: On the 27 th Most of Kentucky and Southeast Ohio were between 65-77F˚. In the Midwest, the most notable December event occurred from the 26 th-29th, bringing heavy snowfall to Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan. The same system brought torrential rainfall to the mid-Mississippi valley, namely Missouri, Illinois, and western Kentucky. Moderate to major flooding ran rampant in Illinois and Missouri, with moderate flooding in parts of Kentucky and Indiana. Missouri was worst hit, especially around St. Louis and St. Charles counties. The flooding resulted in hundreds of water rescues, interstate closures, extensive damage, and fatalities throughout the region. Winter Storm Goliath, plowed into parts of the southwest and Southern Plains on ….Goliath brought heavy snow, strong winds, and bitter cold to New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, western Oklahoma and west Texas. As of December 29th, 18.7% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, down from 20.6% at the beginning of the month. Record and near record precipitation in the Pacific Northwest resulted in dramatic improvement for the region. Parts of the Central Plains and Upper Midwest also saw drought diminish. Drought conditions expanded in portions of the Great Lakes and Northeast.
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November 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., November 2015 temperatures (44.7°F average) were the 13th warmest in the 121 year period of record. Warmer than average temperatures blanketed the eastern half of the country, with 37 states trending warmer than average. New Jersey recorded its warmest November in 121 years. Cooler than average conditions were confined to the West, with Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah all recording below average November temperatures. Nationally, November 2015 was the 4th wettest on record (3.3 inches average precipitation). Above average precipitation was focused across the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast. Arkansas and Missouri had their wettest November on record. Below average precipitation was observed across the Northeast, with New York and Vermont much drier than normal. Most of the West saw near normal conditions.
Significant Weather Events* •
• • • • • • •
Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend (November 26-29) featured above normal temperatures and was the warmest since 2012. The warmest conditions were in the South Atlantic and East South Central. Cold was focused in the West, with the Pacific and Mountain regions trending the coldest for the weekend since 2010. Precipitation was the most since 2000, driven by interior regions. During week 4, leading into the Black Friday weekend, a snow and ice storm impacted the Rockies, Southern Plains, and Midwest. Parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri were most affected with crippling ice, snow, and freezing rain. On November 11-13 a storm system brought heavy snow to the Rockies, central Plains, northern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota. Severe weather, featuring hail, high winds, and 62 confirmed tornadoes moved through the Plains and Deep South on the 16th and 17th. Early in week 3 of November, a major storm brought snow to the Sierra Nevada Mountains before moving eastward and bringing blizzard conditions to Colorado. Denver recorded its snowiest 3rd week of November since 1994. Late in week 3, a separate storm brought significant snow to the upper Midwest. Chicago recorded 11.2”, and Detroit recorded 6”. This resulted in their snowiest week 3 of November in over 55 years, despite the warm conditions that were experienced throughout the month. Overall, November snowfall was 63% below last year due to the warmer than normal temperatures, inhibiting snowfall. As of December 1st, 20.6% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, down approximately 5.6% from the beginning of November. Drought conditions diminished across parts of the southern Plains and Mississippi River Valley. Large improvement was also seen across western Washington. Drought remains entrenched in interior regions of the Northwest, and much of California and Nevada.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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October 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., October 2015 (57.4°F average) temperatures resulted in the 4th warmest October in the 121 year period of record. The warmest anomalies were concentrated in the western half of the country, with 13 states from the Great Plains to the Pacific Coast experiencing their top ten warmest Octobers on record. Much of the Midwest and Deep South were above average. Near average October temperatures were observed through the Southeast and Northeast. Maine was the only state to record below average temperatures. Nationally, October 2015 precipitation (2.75 inches average) was above average and the 20th wettest on record. Above average precipitation was observed across the southern half of the country, stretching from the Southwest through the Southern Plains, and into parts of Southeast. Below average precipitation was observed in Oregon, Florida, Illinois, and Missouri.
Significant Weather Events* • • • •
• • • •
Columbus Day was the warmest since 2007 driven by heat in the West. It was also the driest Columbus Day since 2002. Halloween was warmer than last year with cooler than normal conditions focused across the Northeast. Rainfall was above last year and normal, focused in interior regions. Houston had its wettest Halloween since 1974; New Orleans since 1979. On Sunday the 11th, the Northern Plains experienced record heat, with temperatures soaring above 90°F in many locations. Fargo, ND set an impressive record, reaching 97°F; Norfolk, NE reached 98°F. From October 1st – 5th a strong low pressure system combined with remnants of Hurricane Joaquin (which did not make U.S. landfall), and brought historic rainfall to the Carolinas. Rain totals of 15-20 inches were wide spread, with over 25 inches reported around Charleston, SC. Significant flooding resulted in over 400 road closures, including interstate highways. On October 15th thunderstorms north of Los Angeles caused flooding and mudslides, which resulted in parts of Interstate 5 being closed. Hurricane Patricia was named the strongest Pacific Hurricane ever in the Western Hemisphere. While Patricia did not make U.S. landfall, it did result in destructive flooding across Texas in October week 3. Patricia’s remnants also led to the wettest end to October in over 55 years. The Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley received heavy rainfall; Louisiana and Texas (yet again) saw significant flooding. As indicated in the November 3rd U.S. Drought monitor report, 26.2% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, down 5.2% since September 29th. Dramatic improvement was seen across parts of the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi River Valley, due to the extreme rainfall in late October. Parts of the Southeast and Northwest also saw drought improvement. Conditions worsened across parts of the Central Plains and Midwest, and remained entrenched in the West.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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September 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., September 2015 (68.5°F average) temperatures were the 2nd warmest on record, only 0.5°F below the 1998 record. 30 states saw above average temperatures for the month. Nine states had record warmth; Connecticut, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wisconsin. The Southeast and Pacific Northwest were the only regions that experienced near average temperatures. Nationally, U.S. September 2015 precipitation (2.09 inches average) was below average and the 21st driest out of the 121 year period of record. Above average precipitation was observed in parts of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. Below average precipitation was observed across the South Central region, portions of the Rockies, and the lower Mississippi River Valley.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • • • • •
Labor Day in the U.S. was the warmest since 2012. On September 4th, widespread thunderstorms developed across the Carolinas and Virginia, resulting in 52 severe weather reports for the day. Two heavy precipitation events impacted the Northeast during September, each dropping over 8” of rain locally, causing flash flooding. The first was on September 10th-11th in the Mid-Atlantic and up the East Coast. The second event spanned September 20th-30th and was due in part to Hurricane Joaquin. Hurricane Joaquin did not make landfall; however, brought significant rainfall to the East Coast in the last week of the month. The South Atlantic states were the heaviest hit with parts of South Carolina receiving over 20” of rain, which caused historic and devastating flooding. Remnants of Hurricane Linda brought heavy rainfall to the Southwest on September 14th-15th. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Salt Lake City were all wettest for the 3rd week of September in over 55 years. September 23rd-24th saw record amounts of rain in Omaha, Nebraska resulting in street flooding, power outages, and school closings. September was the most active month of the tropical season. Despite no direct landfall, six Atlantic storms and eight Pacific storms drove demand for emergency preparedness items. As of September 29th, 31.4 percent of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up one percent since September 1st. Areas of the Southwest and Southeast saw conditions improve, most notably in South Florida. Drought worsened across portions of the Northeast, while extreme drought expanded in the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi River Valley. Long-term drought conditions continued in the West.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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August 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Nationally, August 2015 (73.0°F average) temperatures were the 31st warmest on record for the month and slightly above the 121 year average. While no state experienced record warmth for August, in the West, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington all trended much warmer than average. In the East, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island were also much warmer than average. Below-average August temperatures were focused across the Central Plains and Ohio Valley. Across the U.S., August 2015 precipitation (2.36 inches average) was slightly below average and 28th driest on record for the month. Drier than average conditions were observed through much of the Northeast, and parts of the South and West. Connecticut and Louisiana were much drier than average. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Indiana were all wetter than average. South Dakota was much wetter than average for the month.
Significant Weather Events • • • • •
•
Hurricane Danny became the first major hurricane of the 2015 Atlantic season during the 3 rd week of the month. Hurricane Erika and Tropical Storm Fred formed in the last week of the month. Hurricane Erika threatened to make landfall in the Southeast, driving purchases of emergency preparedness items. Although Erica dissipated off shore, her remnants brought heavy rainfall to Florida and the Carolina coast at the end of the (calendar) month. Charleston, SC was impacted by two significant rainfall events during the month, including a flash flood emergency in the downtown area on the 18 th. On August 31st, the Charleston International Airport recorded its fifth wettest day on record (since 1938). The Pacific basin saw 7 storms during August, including major hurricanes Kilo, Ignacio, and Jimena. While impacts were limited, this was the first time on record that 3 major hurricanes were simultaneously active in the Pacific basin. The significant drought in the Northwest continued to contribute to large and destructive fires throughout the region. The blazes ravaged hundreds of thousands of acres in Idaho, western Montana, Oregon, Washington, and northern California. Residents and wildlife have been displaced, homes and resources damaged, and recreation disrupted. As of September 1st, 30.4% of the contiguous U.S. was reported to be in drought, up 3.3% since late July. Conditions worsened across parts of the Northwest, Northeast, and Southeast. Much of the South Central also saw worsening drought conditions. Parts of the Central Plains received some drought relief.
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July 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • •
• • •
Averaged across the U.S., July 2015 (73.9°F average) temperatures were close to the median of the 121 year period of record. Below average temperatures spanned from the Southwest into the Central Plains and the East North Central region. Warmer than average conditions were concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, Texas, the Southeast, and the Northeast Coast. Washington was 4th warmest on record for the month; Louisiana 3rd warmest. Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina were also much warmer than average. Averaged across the U.S., July 2015 precipitation (3.16 inches average) was the 14th most on record, and the fourth consecutive month of above average precipitation for the contiguous U.S. Much of the West, Plains, and Ohio Valley received above average precipitation. California, Nevada, New Mexico, Missouri, Indiana, and West Virginia were all much wetter than average. Kentucky was the wettest on record for the month. Below average precipitation was recorded in Washington, Michigan, Connecticut, and parts of the Southeast. Louisiana was 9th driest for the month.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • • •
•
Thunderstorms across the Southwest from July 7th – 9th led to urban flash flooding in multiple locales, including Reno, Nevada and Boise, Idaho. On July 12th-13th, a large thunderstorm complex resulted in over 900 severe weather reports from Minnesota to North Carolina. Severe weather struck the Northeast multiple times in July. On the 10 th, strong storms throughout the Mid-Atlantic states caused widespread damage and power outages that lasted several days. The central Midwest (including Kentucky) was impacted by flash flooding during the month. On the 13th, flood waters affected hundreds of homes and claimed lives in Kentucky and Indiana. On July 18th, flash flooding resulted in fatalities in Ohio. Over July 18th-20th, the remnants of Hurricane Dolores led to record rainfall for Southern California, including LA and San Diego. Flash flooding was significant and included the destruction of a busy bridge on Interstate Highway 10. Rainfall did little to help the drought conditions or wildfires. July saw several large wildfires from northern California to Montana, 12 of which were still burning in California at month’s end. The California Governor declared a state of emergency. One of the largest blazes was the Rocky Fire in northern California, which destroyed multiple homes and nearly 20,000 acres by the end of July. As of August 4th, 27.1% of the U.S. was in drought, up slightly since the end of June (according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report). Parts of the Southwest and Northeast saw the drought improve. California continues to face extreme conditions, with 46% of the state experiencing the worst category of drought.
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June 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., June 2015 (71.4°F average) temperatures were the 2 nd warmest on record, merely 0.2°F below the 1933 all-time record for the month. Warmer than average temperatures overspread most of the country with the strongest anomalies concentrated in the West and Southeast Coast. 16 states averaged much warmer than normal with California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington each having experienced record warmth for June. Cooler than normal temperatures were featured in Michigan and in New England. Averaged across the U.S., June 2015 (3.53 inches average) precipitation was the 9th highest on record for the month and the third consecutive month of above average precipitation for the contiguous U.S. Wetter than average conditions encompassed the Northeast, East North Central, parts of the Plains and the Southwest.15 States were much wetter than average; Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio saw record precipitation totals (more than twice the 20 th century average). Drier than normal conditions were recorded in the Northwest; Washington has its 3 rd driest June, Oregon its 9th.
Significant Weather Events* •
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• • • •
June 2015 was the warmest June in the U.S. in over 55 years with heat focused in the West. The Pacific region trended warmest in 55+ years during weeks 2 and 5; week 3 was warmest since 1985, week 4 since 1992. The South Atlantic region trended warmest in 55+ years during week 3 and the Mountain region had its warmest end to June in over 55 years. The West South Central region was coolest since 2007. The New England, Mid-Atlantic, and East North Central regions were all coolest since 2009. Nationally, June 2015 was the wettest month in over 55 years. In week 1, the Mountain region had its wettest start to June since 2009 while heavy rain impacted major markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Week 3 was the wettest in 55+ years across the Mid-Atlantic, East North Central, and West South Central regions. The month ended with its wettest week 5 in over 30 years for the U.S. Father’s Day in the U.S. was the warmest in 55+ years, and the wettest since 2007. On June 16th Tropical storm Bill became the 2nd named storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding to east Texas and Oklahoma. Remnants of Bill brought heavy rain and severe weather through the Ohio Valley and Northeast late June week 3. June week 4 saw high winds through the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Southeast, leaving thousands without power for days. 60 tornadoes were reported, including 25 in northern Illinois on June 22nd. As of June 30th, 25.9% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up 1.3% since the beginning of June. The Southwest, Upper Midwest, and the Northeast saw drought improvement, while conditions in the Northwest and Southeast worsened. California continues to experience the worst category of drought (D4, exceptional) across 46.7% of the state.
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May 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., May 2015 (60.8°F average) temperatures were near the median value in the 121-year record. Above average temperatures were prevalent throughout the East, with 15 states much warmer than average for the month. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island were all record warm. The Northwest also saw above average conditions. Below average temperatures overspread the Great Plains and Southern Rockies. The U.S. saw above average precipitation for May 2015 (4.36 inches average), making it the wettest of any month on record. Wetter than average conditions engulfed the central U.S., with 15 states from the great Basin to the Mississippi River seeing much above average precipitation. Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas each had their wettest May on record; Oklahoma and Texas were wettest on record for any month. Drier than average conditions spanned much of the East Coast; South Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut received much below average precipitation.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • • • • • • •
Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10th) was warmest since 2004. Memorial Day Weekend (May 23-25) was warmer than normal along the East and West Coasts with cooler temperatures and severe weather through the Central Plains, Rockies, and Southwest. Memorial Day was warmer than normal and wettest since 2004 due to the heavy rain in the South Central. Temperatures across the U.S. were coolest since 2011, but warmer than normal. Warmth was focused in the East, while cooler temperatures were focused in the central U.S. The New England region was warmest for the month in 55+ years; the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic since 1991. The West North Central, West South Central, and Mountain regions were coolest since 2011. Late season snow fell during weeks 1 and 3 in Denver, the Rockies, and parts of the Northeast. Record rainfall was seen in all four weeks, resulting in the wettest (retail) May since 1968 and the wettest month ever for Texas and Oklahoma. Northern Texas and Southern Oklahoma were the wettest regions. In week 1 Oklahoma City and the Mountain region saw the most rain in 55+ years; week 2 was wettest on record for San Diego and Phoenix. Week 3 initiated extreme rainfall across the West South Central, carrying into a record setting week 4 as well as total May; Dallas had its wettest 4th week of May in over 55 years. Flooding was disruptive and destructive across the South Central during the final 2 weeks of the month. Flash flooding devastated Houston on Memorial Day Weekend, flooding highways, homes and leaving thousands without power. Tropical Storm Ana brought heavy rain and high winds to the Carolina coasts during May week 1. As of June 2nd 24.6% of the U.S. was in drought, down from 37.4% at the end of April, and the smallest drought footprint since February 2011. Dramatic improvement was seen in the Southern Plains and to a lesser extent across the Central and Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Central Rockies. Drought worsened across parts of the Northeast, Southeast, and Northwest and remained embedded in the West.
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April 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., April 2015 (53.1°F average) temperatures were the 17th warmest on record. Above average temperatures encompassed much of the contiguous U.S., with near average conditions in the Northeast, as well as Michigan, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and New Mexico. Warmth was focused in the Southeast. Florida experienced its warmest April on record; Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina were much above average. The U.S. saw above average precipitation for April 2015 (2.78 inches average), and was the 37th wettest April on record. Wetter than average conditions were observed from the Southern Plains into the Southeast and Ohio Valley. Kentucky, Louisiana, and West Virginia saw precipitation much above average. Kentucky had its 2nd wettest April on record. Drier than average conditions spanned California, much of the Northwest and Northern Plains, and into the Northeast. The dry trend continued in South Dakota, with April 2015 ranking 11 th driest on record.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • • • • • •
Week 1 was cooler than LY but warmer than normal, while week 3 was cooler than LY and normal. Week 2 was the warmest since 2012 in the U.S., and week 4 trended warmer than both LY and normal. The East South Central region was warmest for the month in 4 years with the South Atlantic region much above normal. Miami and Orlando had their warmest April in over 55 years, Tampa was warmest since 1991. Atlanta, Nashville, and New Orleans were warmest since 2011, Minneapolis since 2010. Boston and the entire New England region saw the coolest April since 2003. The West South Central region was wettest since 2004. Buffalo and Minneapolis were driest since 2005. April saw more than 1,400 confirmed severe weather reports, the most so far this year. The core of the activity was in weeks 2 and 3, with reports tapering off for week 4. Severe weather was active in the Midwest, with the most significant event occurring April 8th- 9th. There were over 700 reports of hail, wind, and tornadoes across the country, many in the Midwest. April 9th brought seven tornadoes through north-central Illinois; the most devastating tornado was an EF-4. The Southern Plains encountered severe weather throughout the month. April 24th brought over a dozen tornadoes across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. On April 27th, damaging winds passed through Baton Rouge leaving over 50,000 people without power. Through mid-April, West Virginia saw numerous road closures due to river and flash flooding, as well as mudslides resulting from heavy rain. On April 9th, winds reaching 80 mph caused damage in western Pennsylvania and baseball-sized hail was recorded in western West Virginia. As of April 28th 37.4% of the U.S. was in drought, up 0.6% since the previous report on March 31st. Conditions worsened across parts of the Northwest, Northern Plains, and Upper Midwest. Extreme drought remains in the West, while the Southern Plains and central Gulf Coast saw some improvement in both long-term and short-term drought conditions.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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March 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., March 2015 (45.4°F average) temperatures were the 12th warmest on record. Temperatures much above average occurred in 15 states including Florida and states across the Northern Plains, and West. Five states in New England had a March temperature that was well below normal. Massachusetts and Rhode Island each had a top 10 coldest March. Averaged across the U.S., precipitation in March 2015 (2.08 inches average) was below average and was tied for the 19th driest March on record. Above average precipitation was observed from the Southern Plains into the Ohio Valley. Both Arkansas and Texas were much wetter than normal, with Texas experiencing its 4th wettest March on record. Below average precipitation was observed across the Northern Tier and both the East and West Coasts, with the driest anomalies focused in the Central and Northern Plains. Nebraska and South Dakota were each 2nd driest on record for March, Iowa 3rd driest, and California 8th driest.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • • • •
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St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) was warmest since 2012, while Easter (April 5) was coldest since 2009. Easter conditions were drier than normal but wetter than Easter last year (April 20). On a national level, the first week of the month was coldest since 1996, while weeks 2 through 5 were the warmest since the record warmth of March 2012. All regions trended warmer than last year, with the Pacific region warmest in over 55 years during weeks 2-4. The Mountain region saw record warmth during week 3. LA, Sacramento, San Diego, Phoenix, and Orlando were all warmest in 55+ years. Seattle, Portland, OR, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and Miami were each 2nd warmest in 55+ years. In the East, Boston experienced its coldest March since 1984; Philadelphia since 2005. Boston surpassed its all-time seasonal snowfall record as totals topped 110 inches during the second week of March. Week 1 of March brought the most March snowfall to the West South Central in 55+ years, East South Central in 5 years, and Mid-Atlantic in 10 years. Philly, NYC, DC, and Baltimore broke 12 year old daily records during week 1. Chicago had its most March week 4 snowfall since 1983; Minneapolis since 1996. NYC set a daily snowfall record (4.6”) on the 1st day of spring (March 20). Severe weather season experienced its latest start since 1970. Events only picked up in weeks 4 and 5, with over 30 Tornadoes and 500 hail reports. As of March 31st, 36.8% of the U.S. was in drought, up 4.9% since the beginning of the month. Drought conditions worsened across parts of the Central Rockies as well as the Central and Northern Plains, and the Upper Midwest. Drought remains steadfast in the West, with many locations in the Cascades and Sierras showing record low snowpack. There were drought improvements in the Southern Plains and the mid-to lower- Mississippi River Valley.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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February 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • •
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Averaged across the U.S., February 2015 temperatures (33.1°F average) were near normal for the 121year period of record, although strong regional trends were prevalent. Warmer than average temperatures were recorded in the western U.S. where 8 states had a top 10 warm February. California, Arizona, Utah, and Washington each had their warmest February on record. Areas from the Mississippi River to the East Coast experienced colder than normal temperatures for the month, with 23 states recording their top ten coldest February. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and all states in New England had their 2nd coldest February in 121 years. Averaged across the U.S., precipitation in February 2015 (1.70 inches average) ranked as the 20th driest February in the 121-year period of record. Most locations across the contiguous U.S. had near to below-average monthly precipitation. Colorado was the only state that had above average precipitation for the month.
Significant Weather Events*
Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) was the coldest since 2010. President’s Day (Feb. 16) was the coldest since 1979 with the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and East North Central regions coldest in over 55 years. Driven by temperatures in the East, this February was the coldest for the U.S. since 1989, with its coldest final week of February in over 55 years. The New England and Mid-Atlantic regions experienced record breaking temperatures, having their coldest February in over 55 years. The East North Central had its 2nd coldest; the East South Central 3rd coldest. NYC, Boston, Baltimore, Detroit, and Pittsburgh were all coldest in 55+ years. Chicago, Cleveland, and Buffalo had their coldest February on record. The Pacific region had its warmest February in over 55 years; the Mountain region since 1995. San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Portland, OR each had their warmest February in 55+ years. Snowfall in the U.S. trended 15% below LY, although significantly above normal. U.S. snowfall was focused in New England with Boston (65 inches in Feb.) and Denver experiencing their snowiest February on record; Chicago and Buffalo 3rd snowiest. Boston had its snowiest month ever recorded. January 31-February 2 brought heavy snow to the Midwest. Chicago received 16.2 inches on February 1st making it the 2nd highest single day snowfall for Chicago of all time. On February 25th-26th a Winter storm dropped over 8 inches of snow across parts of the Southeast. Another major snowstorm impacted the Midwest late on February 28th into March 1st. This was the fourth major snowstorm to impact the Midwest in 30 days. As of March 3rd, 31.9% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up from 28.4% at the beginning of February. Conditions improved in parts of the West and the Ohio Valley, while they worsened across parts of the central Rockies, Southern Plains, and central Gulf Coast.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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January 2015
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., January 2015 (33.0°F average) temperatures were the 24th warmest on record. Warmer than average temperatures were recorded from the West Coast, through the Rockies, and into the Northern Plains. California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming all had a top 10 warmest January. Areas in the Northeast and South Central experienced cooler than normal temperatures for the month. Averaged across the U.S., precipitation in January 2015 (1.75 inches average) ranked as the 18th driest January in the 121-year period of record. Overall, the majority of the U.S. was drier than average. The West, Central Plains, Midwest, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic were especially dry. California, Oregon, Wyoming, and Nebraska, recorded their top 10 driest January. Parts of the Southwest, South Central, and Mid-Atlantic were all wetter than average.
Significant Weather Events* • • • • •
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Nationally, January temperatures in the U.S. were the warmest since 2012, driven by mild conditions in the West. Temperature trends fluctuated by week and by region. Week 1 was the coldest start to January in 5 years, with Chicago, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh all coldest since 1988. Cold temperatures continued into week 2 as all U.S. regions trended colder than last year for the week. Nationally, weeks 3 and 4 saw a shift to warmer temperatures. Locations in the West trended warmer; San Diego had its warmest January in over 50 years. Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Sacramento were each warmest since 2003. Snow, sleet, and ice blanketed the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast during the weekend of week 3. While amounts were mostly light to moderate, record snowfall was still reported throughout the region, including New York City. A storm during week 4 brought up to 3 feet of snow, accompanied by coastal flooding, and high wind gusts of 50-78 mph to New England, making it their snowiest end to the month in over 50 years. Boston and Pittsburgh also had their most snowfall to end January in over 50 years. The storm was given a category 3 rating for the Northeast. This January had the 18th smallest snow cover extent for the month in the 49-year period of record. Snow coverage for the contiguous U.S. was measured at 1.3 million square miles; 75,000 square miles less than the 1981-2010 average (according to analysis of NOAA data by the Rutgers Global Snow Lab). Drought continued in California with a precipitation total for the month of 0.68 inches, 3.57 inches below average. This was the third consecutive January to have well below average precipitation, and was the fourth driest on record for the state. For the first time on record, San Francisco received no measurable January precipitation. Despite January typically being the wettest month of the year for California, several other cities were record dry.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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