Planalytics 2016 LOOKBACK Report November 2015 to October 2016
U.S. Historical Monthly Temperature and Precipitation Statistics & Significant Weather Events
November 2016
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October 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., October 2016 (57.7°F average) temperatures were the third warmest for the month in the 122 year period of record, and warmest since 1963. New Mexico had its warmest October in 122 years. An additional 27 states saw much above average temperatures spanning from the Southwest through the Southeast; Texas was second warmest for the month in the 122 year period of record. Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma were each third warmest. Only three states, Oregon, Washington, and Montana had near average temperatures. Nationally, October 2016 precipitation (2.33 inches average) was ranked near the middle of the 122 year period of record. Above average precipitation was observed across parts of the West and Northwest. Washington, Idaho, and Montana each had their wettest October on record; California and Oregon were much above average. Portions of the East also saw above average precipitation, in part due to Hurricane Matthew. Below average rainfall was observed throughout much of the South. Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee all recorded one of their 10 driest Octobers on record.
Significant Weather Events •
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Late in week 1, Hurricane Matthew moved up the South Atlantic coastline impacting Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Matthew brought hurricane force winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge to the Southeast. The hurricane made U.S. landfall on October 8 near Charleston, SC. Historic flooding in North Carolina persisted into week 2. From October 8-9, residual rainfall from Hurricane Matthew brought up to six inches of rain to parts of the Northeast, resulting in localized flooding and downed trees. Cold air behind the system brought the first snow of the season to higher elevations of northern New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Several storm systems brought widespread above normal precipitation to the Northwest during the month. The most notable system occurred from October 12 – 17, which brought damaging winds, flooding rain, coastal storm surge, and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest and northern California. Later in the month, October 27 – 28, portions of New York and western New England received their first inch or more of snow for the season. On October 23, many areas in the Southeast experienced their coldest weather of the month, as a high pressure system brought in seasonably cold air from the northwest. This stood in stark contrast to the much above average trend for the month. Columbus Day was coldest since 2013, as most markets trended cooler than the prior year and normal. Halloween was the warmest since 1974 in the U.S. Rainfall was below LY and normal, which provided 'spooktacular' conditions for trick-or-treaters. According to the November 1st U.S. Drought Monitor report, drought coverage rose to 26.8% of the contiguous U.S., up 7.4% from the prior month. Most of the expansion was in the South and Southeast. In the South, the footprint quadrupled from 10% to 42%. In the Southeast it rose from 25% to 39%.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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September 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Nationally, September 2016 temperatures (67.2°F average) were the 9th warmest in 122 years. Above average temperatures were focused in the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. Twenty-seven states were much warmer than average, with record warmth recorded in Ohio. The western states experienced near average temperatures for the month. There were no states below average during September 2016. Across the U.S., September 2016 precipitation (2.70 inches average) was slightly above average and near the median value in the 122-year period of record. The Northern Tier and Southeast experienced above average precipitation, with much wetter than average conditions recorded in Montana, North Dakota, Utah, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Delaware. Drier conditions were focused across the West Coast, the Southern Tier, and New England. Maine and Vermont were much drier than average.
Significant Weather Events • •
During Labor Day weekend, Hermine stole the headlines bringing gusty winds, rough surf, and rip currents to coastal areas in the Northeast. The Plains, Midwest, and Mid-South were warmer than normal although cooler than LY. The West Coast was cooler than normal, but warmer than LY. Labor Day in the U.S. was the coolest since 2011 and driest since 2005.
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Locations in Colorado, North Dakota, and Wyoming experienced their first freeze of the season during the month of September.
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A storm system moved across south-central Kansas from the 7th through the 10th, resulting in road closures and water rescues due to flooding. Southern Oklahoma and northern Texas reported hail and high winds on September 17 th, but no injuries were reported.
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Hurricane Paine interacted with an upper level disturbance September 19th – 23rd and brought above normal rainfall to some locales in California, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana.
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On September 20th – 24th, heavy rains across Iowa and Wisconsin led to major flooding. Rainfall totals ranged from 5 to 9 inches. Because the soil was already saturated due to earlier rainfall, the storm quickly brought local rivers to major flood stage.
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Central and southern coastal California experienced a heat wave September 25th – 27th, producing average temperatures 10°F to 15°F above normal.
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Thunderstorms on September 28th produced large hail across central North Carolina and Virginia, with reports ranging from 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter.
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As of October 4th, 19.4% of the contiguous U.S. was reported to be in drought, down slightly since the beginning of the month. Conditions worsened across parts of the Southeast, Northeast, and Great Basin. Improvement was seen across parts of the Great Plains, Southwest, and Midwest.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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August 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Nationally, August 2016 temperatures (73.6°F average) were the 17th warmest in 122 years. Above average temperatures were focused in the East and throughout the West Coast. Twenty-four states were much warmer than average, with record warmth recorded in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. Near average temperatures were observed for much of the central U.S., with below average August temperatures in Colorado and New Mexico. Across the U.S., August 2016 precipitation (3.47 inches average) was the most since 1977 and second wettest in the 122 year period of record. Much wetter than average conditions were observed across parts of the Southwest, Southern Plains, and Midwest. Louisiana had record precipitation for the month. Drier than average conditions were focused across the West, and parts of the East Coast. Idaho and New Jersey were much drier than average.
Significant Weather Events •
There were five tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean during August, three of which formed during the final week of the month, driving emergency purchasing. The most notable system was Hurricane Hermine which impacted Florida, the Gulf Coast, and the Southeast. While Hermine was downgraded to a tropical storm and moved into the Atlantic, it was close enough to the coast that it impacted beachrelated traffic and activities into Labor Day weekend. Hurricane Gaston strengthened into a category 3 hurricane, but remained at sea with no impacts to business.
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On August 10 - 13, a system dumped torrential rainfall across southern Louisiana causing catastrophic flooding (through the 16th). Precipitation totals over 20 inches were widespread, even exceeding 30 inches in some areas. Impacts to both businesses and consumers persisted through month-end in Baton Rouge and surrounding locations.
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Several markets including Washington, D.C., Daytona Beach, FL, and Charleston, SC, observed or tied their highest count of days for the calendar month where max temperatures were at or above 90˚F.
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Over 20 tornados hit Indiana and Ohio on August 24th. Northwestern Minnesota was hit by an EF-2 tornado on the 28th; two-inch wide hail also fell in Minnesota on the 10th and the 28th.
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Several large fires impacted the West, most notably in California. These include the Soberanes Fire, the Chimney Fire, and the Blue Cut Fire which was 20th most destructive in state history.
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On the 8th, a stalled low pressure system caused flash flooding across the Florida Panhandle and southwestern Georgia. As of August 30th, 19.5% of the contiguous U.S. was reported to be in drought, down about 1.6% since the beginning of the month. Conditions worsened across parts of the Southeast, Northeast, and Northern Rockies. Improvement was seen across parts of the Great Plains, Southeast, and Midwest.
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Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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July 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., July 2016 temperatures (75.3°F average) were above normal and the 14 th warmest in the 122 year period of record. Above average temperatures were widespread across the southern half of the nation and along the East Coast. Florida and New Mexico recorded their warmest July in 122 years. Average temperatures were recorded in the Northwest, Northern Plains, and parts of the Midwest. Across the U.S., precipitation in July 2016 (2.87 inches average) was slightly above average. Wetter than normal conditions occurred throughout the Northwest, Northern and Central Plains, and Midwest. Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, and North Dakota all received much above normal precipitation for the month of July. Drier than average conditions occurred in the Southwest, Central Rockies, Southern Plains, and parts of the East Coast. Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, and Wyoming all had much below normal precipitation.
Significant Weather Events
Independence Day (July 4) was the warmest in 3 years with precipitation below last year but above normal. The West South Central region was wettest since 2006. The South Atlantic region had its warmest July since 2010 with mean temperature departures 2-4°F above average across much of the region. A heat wave occurred from July 20-22 across the North Central Plains and parts of the Midwest. Heat wave conditions extended from the Midwest to the East Coast over the weekend. From July 24-27, Washington, D.C. tied its second longest streak of four days with a minimum temperature at or above 80°F. On July 2, Wichita, KS received 5.72 inches of rain, which was the highest 1-day rainfall total on record for the month. On July 11-12, flooding occurred in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. It was the worst flooding in the area since June 2012. On July 16, thunderstorms caused significant flash flooding in North Carolina’s Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill (the Triangle region), resulting in numerous road closures and water rescues. On July 30, heavy rainfall in Maryland’s Baltimore metro area resulted in significant flash flooding. Over 5,400 severe weather incidents were reported during July. Most reports were driven by high winds across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern regions. Dry conditions in California contributed to multiple wildfires throughout the month, focused in southern California and along the central coast. 81,600 acres were destroyed along with 75 homes. Early in the month, the Hot Pot Fire burned in northern Nevada, spreading over 122,000 acres in a 7day period. As of August 2, 21.1% of the U.S. was in drought, an increase of 4.9% from late June. Drought conditions worsened in parts of the Southeast, Great Plains, and Northeast. A drought watch was declared for the first time since 2002 in New York. Drought and wildfires remain severe across California.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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June 2016 Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., June 2016 temperatures (71.8°F average) were record warm for the month, the warmest in 122 years, breaking the previous record set in 1933. Above average temperatures were strongest in the Central Plains and throughout the West. Utah and Arizona recorded their warmest June in 122 years. No state in the contiguous U.S. had below normal June temperatures. Across the U.S., precipitation in June 2016 (2.46 inches average) was below average and the 14th driest for the 122 year period of record. Drier than average conditions occurred throughout the Northern and Central Plains, Midwest, and Northeast. Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Massachusetts were exceptionally dry in June 2016. Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Virginia all received above normal rainfall.
Significant Weather Events
Father’s Day (June 19) was warmer than normal with the least rainfall in 55+ years. Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, and Phoenix were all warmest in 55+ years. The Northern Plains region was very warm during the month of June with most locations recording temperatures 3-6°F above normal. For all but one day of the month (June 7), the Midwest region reported severe weather. Tornadoes were reported in Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio. 4 tornadoes were also reported across the Southeast region; this is well below the median number of tornadoes that usually occur in the Southeast during the month of June. On June 1-2, Houston recorded 7.5 inches of rain, which surpassed the city’s monthly average rainfall amount. The heavy rainfall worsened flood conditions that carried over from the month of May. On June 6, Tropical Storm Colin made landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida, bringing heavy rainfall to the Southeast region. On June 23-24, historic flooding in West Virginia destroyed over 1,500 homes and caused at least 23 fatalities. On June 15, the Cedar Fire ignited in east-central Arizona and consumed nearly 46,000 acres of land. In late June, the Erskine Fire began in Southern California and charred over 48,000 acres of land. This wildfire ranks as the 15th most destructive in California history. Several other wildfires raged throughout the state during the month of June. As of June 28th, 16.2% of the U.S. was in drought, an increase of 3.5% from late May. Drought worsened in parts of the Northwest, Northern Plains, Northeast, and Southeast. Drought conditions remain severe across California.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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May 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • •
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Across the U.S., May 2016 temperatures (60.3°F average) were near normal and close to the median value of the 122 year period of record. Above average temperatures were strongest in the Pacific Northwest with the northernmost states, West Coast, and Florida coming in above average as well. Washington was the only state that came in much warmer than average. Cooler than average conditions were recorded in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia, and Maryland. Near-average temperatures were experienced through the Southwest and parts of the Central Plains, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions. Across the U.S., precipitation in May 2016 (3.04 inches average) was slightly above average for the 122 year period of record. Parts of the Rockies, Southwest, Central Plains and Mid-Atlantic received above normal rainfall. Virginia and Delaware both recorded their 5th wettest May in 122 years. Drier than average conditions occurred in Washington, Minnesota, and Michigan as well as parts of the Northeast and Southeast.
Significant Weather Events
The Pacific Northwest saw strong high pressure the first two weeks of the month, resulting in temperatures of more than 10°F above normal. The Northeast region experienced severe thunderstorms on May 1-2 which produced baseball-sized hail in Maryland and flash flooding in both Maryland and West Virginia. For 20 of 31 days in the month, parts of the Midwest region reported severe weather. Tornadoes were reported on May 1, 9-11, 23-27, and 31. Tornadoes in southeastern Oklahoma resulted in two fatalities on the 9th of the month while on May 10, a tornado injured several people in Kentucky. 5 tornadoes were also reported across the Southeast, bringing damage to Wilmington, NC on May 5 and to Vero Beach, FL on May 17. Tropical Depression Bonnie made landfall in South Carolina on May 29, resulting in a partial closure of I-95 due to flooding. May saw historic flooding in Texas, resulting in at least 12 confirmed fatalities. Eleven locations in Texas set records for monthly total rainfall and another 17 set records for 24-hour precipitation. 31 counties were declared disaster areas. In mid-May, lightning ignited several fires in Arizona, burning across thousands of acres. As of May 31st, 12.7% of the U.S. was in drought, down considerably from conditions in late April. Improvement was seen across parts of the Great Basin and Plains. Northern California and Nevada also saw some relief. Drought worsened in parts of the Southeast and southern Appalachians.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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April 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., April 2016 temperatures (53.2°F average) were above normal and the 18th warmest in the 122 year period of record. Above average temperatures blanketed the western two-thirds of the country, with the warmest anomalies along the West Coast and in the Northwest. California, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho were all much warmer than average. Near-average temperatures were recorded through the Great Lakes and much of the East Coast. Cooler than average conditions were seen in New York and Vermont. Across the U.S., precipitation in April 2016 (2.95 inches average) was slightly above average and the 21st wettest in the 122 year period of record. The Southwest and Great Plains all received above normal precipitation. States from Montana over to North Dakota, and down through Texas were all much wetter than normal. Drier than average conditions were experienced throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, as well as along the Northwest Coast.
Significant Weather Events
Early in the month, the Northeast region was met with much cooler than normal temperatures. New York and New England felt the brunt of this and on April 4th and 5th saw temperatures up to 30˚F below normal. High winds resulted in widespread fallen tree damage across New Jersey and Delaware on the 2nd of the month. On April 11-12 severe hailstorms hit San Antonio and north Texas. The Texas Insurance Council believes that it will be the costliest hailstorm in Texas history, with over $1 billion in estimated damages. A potent storm system impacted much of the High Plains on April 15-18, bringing widespread rainfall and severe weather to the region. The same storm system also brought significant snowfall to Colorado’s Front Range on April 15-17, reaching up to 50 inches in some higher elevations. On April 17-18 a storm system resulted in crippling flooding for Houston, with well over ten inches of rainfall reported. Thousands of properties were damaged, homes evacuated, and rescues necessitated. Heavy rain in Las Vegas on April 9th and 30th resulted in flash flooding and travel disruptions. Dozens of tornadoes were reported across eastern and central Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas on April 26th. High winds were also reported throughout the Ohio Valley and Texas. Most of the damage was limited to downed trees and power lines. As of May 3rd, 14.6% of the U.S. was in drought, down slightly from the prior month. Improvement was seen across parts of the Northwest, Northern and Southern Plains, and Rockies. Northern California also saw some relief. Drought worsened in parts of the Southwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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March 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., March 2016 temperatures (47.5°F average) were well above average and the 3rd warmest for the month in the 122 year period of record. Each state in the contiguous U.S. had above normal March temperatures; although, no state reached record warmth for the month. Warmest anomalies were recorded in the Rockies, Central and Northern Plains, Midwest, and along the East Coast. Across the U.S., precipitation in March 2016 (2.89 inches average) was slightly above average and 26th wettest in the 122 year period of record. Wetter than normal conditions were experienced along the West Coast, in the Midwest, Texas, and the Lower Mississippi Valley. Drier than average conditions were experienced in portions of the Southwest, in Kansas, and along the East Coast, where eight states were much drier than average. New Mexico had its driest March on record.
Significant Weather Events*
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) trended warmer than normal driven by eastern markets. Easter Sunday (March 27) had near normal temperatures in the U.S. and was wettest since 2009. Major markets of NYC, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Salt Lake City all received measurable snow during the month, although all amounts were below LY. Week 1 brought several inches of snow to the Mid-Atlantic region. Significant snow and ice fell across portions of the Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes during week 4; the Denver International Airport was closed on the 23rd due to significant snow. In week 5, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh all received snow. On March 28, a Great Basin snowstorm impacted Nevada and southern Idaho. Heavy rains early and late month caused devastating flooding across the South Central region. On March 8-12, eastern Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi saw rainfall totals over 18 inches, and in the case of northeastern Louisiana, over 22 inches. Hundreds of homes were flooded across the region, roads and institutions were closed, and evacuations were ordered. Much needed rain fell in California bringing San Francisco and Sacramento their wettest March since 2011; Los Angeles since 2012. Flooding and mudslides impacted northern California on March 11. Conversely, Phoenix recorded its 3rd rain-free February/March in 122 years. Severe weather picked up during the final two weeks of March. Hail, high winds, and tornadoes impacted parts of the Gulf Coast, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Plains. As of March 29, 15.1% of the U.S. was in drought, up slightly from the prior month. Improvement was seen across parts of the Northwest and northern California; conditions worsened in the Southwest and parts of the Southern and Central Plains.
*All statistics are based on the National Retail Federation calendar. The month of March spans February 28-April 2. Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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February 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., February 2016 temperatures (39.5°F average) were above average for the 122-year period of record. It was the seventh warmest February on record. Warmer than average temperatures occurred across most of the U.S. The Northeast, Michigan, and much of the western half of the country, 21 states in total, recorded much above average temperatures. While the rest of the country was warmer than normal, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia trended near average. Across the U.S., precipitation in February 2016 (1.93 inches average) was slightly below average for the month. Locations west of the Mississippi received near or below average precipitation for the month. Above average precipitation occurred east of the Mississippi, with the wettest deviations in the northeastern part of the country.
Significant Weather Events*
Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) was the coldest since 2007 with below normal rain and above normal snow. President’s Day (Feb. 15) was the warmest since 2005 with the most precipitation since 1998. Despite the warmth, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions had their most holiday snowfall since 2011. Snow fell from February 1st to 3rd across northeastern Colorado, northwestern Kansas, central Nebraska, Iowa, and upper Michigan. High winds from the storm created blizzard conditions, snow drifts, power outages, and the closure of Interstate 80 across much of Nebraska. A winter storm passed through coastal areas from New York to Maine on February 8 th, leaving behind up to 11 inches of snow. Another winter storm in the Northeast from the 15th to 16th brought up to 22 inches of snow locally. The storm contributed to numerous accidents, power outages, and hundreds of delayed or cancelled flights. During February 24th to 25th a storm raged across parts of Illinois and Indiana with reports of blizzard conditions. Michigan experienced the heaviest snow from the storm. There were 441 reports of severe weather across the Southeast during the month, most of which came in on the 23rd and 24th. There were 53 confirmed tornadoes in the region, the most since 1950. Tornadoes were also reported in east central Mississippi on February 2nd and from southwestern Louisiana to central Mississippi on February 15th. Dry conditions led to fire concerns in several locations, with grassland fires sparking in Missouri and a 1,700 acre fire breaking out near Amarillo, Texas. As of March 1st, 14.3% of the U.S. was in drought, down slightly since the prior month. Improvement was seen across parts of the Northwest and Northeast; conditions worsened in parts of the Southern Plains and Southwest. 38% of California remains in the worst category of drought.
*All statistics are based on the National Retail Federation calendar. The month of February spans Jan 31-Feb 27. Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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January 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., January 2016 (32.2°F average) temperatures were above average, resulting in the 34th warmest January in the 122 year period of record. Warmer than average temperatures were observed across the Northern Tier of the country, into the Central Plains and along the West Coast. Maine recorded its 11th warmest January on record. Portions of the Southeast and Mid-South saw cooler than average temperatures for the month. Nationally, U.S. precipitation in January 2016 (2.03 inches average) ranked as the 36th driest in the 122 year period of record. The Southwest and Florida received above average precipitation for the month. Parts of Florida were record wet, contributing to the 4th wettest January on record for the state. Most of the East saw drier than normal conditions, as well as the Midwest and Southern Plains. Ohio was 9th driest on record.
Significant Weather Events* •
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On January 22-24 a historic winter storm hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, dropping snow from Arkansas to Massachusetts. Awarded a category 4 (crippling) rating on the Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale, the storm ranked as the fourth most impactful winter storm since 1950. Over 100 million people were affected; there were 13,000 cancelled flights, widespread power outages, and severe coastal flooding. In the Northeast, Philadelphia and Washington National airports received their latest first trace of snow on record, on January 12. Shortly after, the 22-24 winter storm dropped up to 42 inches of snow on parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Multiple locations along the New Jersey and Delaware Coasts experienced moderate-to-major flooding. Storms battered southern California and the Southwest during the first week of the month, with heavy rainfall in California leading to flooding and mudslides. In the second week of the month (1/9 – 1/14) storm systems brought snow to the Midwest through the Ohio Valley, leading to several multi-vehicle accidents that closed interstate highways in the Midwest. In Michigan, on the 17th, whiteout conditions and a slippery roadway led to a 200 car pile-up, closing I-94 for most of the day. January 19-20 brought cold conditions to much of the Southeast, with minimum temperatures falling below 25˚F across a broad portion of the region north of Florida. Flooding continued across the Lower Mississippi River Valley, notably in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. As of the February 2nd U.S. Drought Monitor report, 15.5 percent of the country was in drought, down 3.2 percent since the end of December, which is the smallest drought footprint since October 2010. Improvement was seen across the West and Northeast, while worsening in portions of the Northern Rockies and Plains.
*All statistics are based on the National Retail Federation calendar, the month of January spans Jan 3-Jan 30. 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, the warmest in 121 years, breaking the previous record set in 1939. Exceptionally anomalous warmth overspread the eastern half of the country; record warm for 29 states. The West saw 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, spanning 121 years. This surpassed the previous record set in 1982. Above average precipitation was observed throughout the country. 23 states were much wetter than average, namely in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Central Plains, and South Atlantic regions. Iowa and Wisconsin had their wettest December on record.
Significant Weather Events
Nationally, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day trended the warmest in 55+ years, driven by record warmth across the East. Denver and Salt Lake City were the only major markets to have a white Christmas, while Nashville and Memphis had their most Christmas Day rain since 1987. New Year’s Day was warmest since 2011, but drier than LY. On the 12th-16th a swath of snow was dumped from the Cascades and Sierra Nevada Mountains through the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Denver, Salt Lake City, and Flagstaff received significant totals. The first notable lake effect snow event of the season occurred from the 19th-20th. Up to 3 feet of snow fell to the east of Lake Ontario, and up to a foot of snow east of Lake Erie. On the 23rd, several tornadoes were reported from Mississippi to Tennessee. A winter storm system brought severe weather across the country from the 26 th-29th, and was officially the deadliest storm system of the year in the U.S. The system brought heavy snow, strong winds, and bitter cold to New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, western Oklahoma and west Texas. On December 26th, deadly tornadoes swept through the Dallas area, causing exceptional damage. On the 27th several tornadoes were reported in southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. On the 26th-29th, a storm system brought heavy snowfall to the Midwest, including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan causing widespread travel disruptions. The same system brought torrential rainfall to the Mississippi Valley. Moderate to major flooding ran rampant in Illinois and Missouri, with flooding also taking place in parts of Kentucky and Indiana. Missouri was worst hit, most notable in St. Louis and St. Charles. 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.
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 impacting traffic into stores and restaurants. 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.
*All statistics are based on the National Retail Federation calendar, the month of November spans November1st – November 28th.
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* • • • •
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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 high ways. 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 lead 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.
*All statistics are based on the National Retail Federation calendar, the month of October spans October 4th- October 31.
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November 2016
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October 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Averaged across the U.S., October 2016 (57.7°F average) temperatures were the third warmest for the month in the 122 year period of record, and warmest since 1963. New Mexico had its warmest October in 122 years. An additional 27 states saw much above average temperatures spanning from the Southwest through the Southeast; Texas was second warmest for the month in the 122 year period of record. Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma were each third warmest. Only three states, Oregon, Washington, and Montana had near average temperatures. Nationally, October 2016 precipitation (2.33 inches average) was ranked near the middle of the 122 year period of record. Above average precipitation was observed across parts of the West and Northwest. Washington, Idaho, and Montana each had their wettest October on record; California and Oregon were much above average. Portions of the East also saw above average precipitation, in part due to Hurricane Matthew. Below average rainfall was observed throughout much of the South. Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee all recorded one of their 10 driest Octobers on record.
Significant Weather Events •
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Late in week 1, Hurricane Matthew moved up the South Atlantic coastline impacting Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Matthew brought hurricane force winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge to the Southeast. The hurricane made U.S. landfall on October 8 near Charleston, SC. Historic flooding in North Carolina persisted into week 2. From October 8-9, residual rainfall from Hurricane Matthew brought up to six inches of rain to parts of the Northeast, resulting in localized flooding and downed trees. Cold air behind the system brought the first snow of the season to higher elevations of northern New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Several storm systems brought widespread above normal precipitation to the Northwest during the month. The most notable system occurred from October 12 – 17, which brought damaging winds, flooding rain, coastal storm surge, and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest and northern California. Later in the month, October 27 – 28, portions of New York and western New England received their first inch or more of snow for the season. On October 23, many areas in the Southeast experienced their coldest weather of the month, as a high pressure system brought in seasonably cold air from the northwest. This stood in stark contrast to the much above average trend for the month. Columbus Day was coldest since 2013, as most markets trended cooler than the prior year and normal. Halloween was the warmest since 1974 in the U.S. Rainfall was below LY and normal, which provided 'spooktacular' conditions for trick-or-treaters. According to the November 1st U.S. Drought Monitor report, drought coverage rose to 26.8% of the contiguous U.S., up 7.4% from the prior month. Most of the expansion was in the South and Southeast. In the South, the footprint quadrupled from 10% to 42%. In the Southeast it rose from 25% to 39%.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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September 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Nationally, September 2016 temperatures (67.2°F average) were the 9th warmest in 122 years. Above average temperatures were focused in the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. Twenty-seven states were much warmer than average, with record warmth recorded in Ohio. The western states experienced near average temperatures for the month. There were no states below average during September 2016. Across the U.S., September 2016 precipitation (2.70 inches average) was slightly above average and near the median value in the 122-year period of record. The Northern Tier and Southeast experienced above average precipitation, with much wetter than average conditions recorded in Montana, North Dakota, Utah, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Delaware. Drier conditions were focused across the West Coast, the Southern Tier, and New England. Maine and Vermont were much drier than average.
Significant Weather Events • •
During Labor Day weekend, Hermine stole the headlines bringing gusty winds, rough surf, and rip currents to coastal areas in the Northeast. The Plains, Midwest, and Mid-South were warmer than normal although cooler than LY. The West Coast was cooler than normal, but warmer than LY. Labor Day in the U.S. was the coolest since 2011 and driest since 2005.
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Locations in Colorado, North Dakota, and Wyoming experienced their first freeze of the season during the month of September.
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A storm system moved across south-central Kansas from the 7th through the 10th, resulting in road closures and water rescues due to flooding. Southern Oklahoma and northern Texas reported hail and high winds on September 17 th, but no injuries were reported.
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Hurricane Paine interacted with an upper level disturbance September 19th – 23rd and brought above normal rainfall to some locales in California, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana.
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On September 20th – 24th, heavy rains across Iowa and Wisconsin led to major flooding. Rainfall totals ranged from 5 to 9 inches. Because the soil was already saturated due to earlier rainfall, the storm quickly brought local rivers to major flood stage.
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Central and southern coastal California experienced a heat wave September 25th – 27th, producing average temperatures 10°F to 15°F above normal.
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Thunderstorms on September 28th produced large hail across central North Carolina and Virginia, with reports ranging from 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter.
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As of October 4th, 19.4% of the contiguous U.S. was reported to be in drought, down slightly since the beginning of the month. Conditions worsened across parts of the Southeast, Northeast, and Great Basin. Improvement was seen across parts of the Great Plains, Southwest, and Midwest.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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August 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Nationally, August 2016 temperatures (73.6°F average) were the 17th warmest in 122 years. Above average temperatures were focused in the East and throughout the West Coast. Twenty-four states were much warmer than average, with record warmth recorded in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. Near average temperatures were observed for much of the central U.S., with below average August temperatures in Colorado and New Mexico. Across the U.S., August 2016 precipitation (3.47 inches average) was the most since 1977 and second wettest in the 122 year period of record. Much wetter than average conditions were observed across parts of the Southwest, Southern Plains, and Midwest. Louisiana had record precipitation for the month. Drier than average conditions were focused across the West, and parts of the East Coast. Idaho and New Jersey were much drier than average.
Significant Weather Events •
There were five tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean during August, three of which formed during the final week of the month, driving emergency purchasing. The most notable system was Hurricane Hermine which impacted Florida, the Gulf Coast, and the Southeast. While Hermine was downgraded to a tropical storm and moved into the Atlantic, it was close enough to the coast that it impacted beachrelated traffic and activities into Labor Day weekend. Hurricane Gaston strengthened into a category 3 hurricane, but remained at sea with no impacts to business.
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On August 10 - 13, a system dumped torrential rainfall across southern Louisiana causing catastrophic flooding (through the 16th). Precipitation totals over 20 inches were widespread, even exceeding 30 inches in some areas. Impacts to both businesses and consumers persisted through month-end in Baton Rouge and surrounding locations.
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Several markets including Washington, D.C., Daytona Beach, FL, and Charleston, SC, observed or tied their highest count of days for the calendar month where max temperatures were at or above 90˚F.
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Over 20 tornados hit Indiana and Ohio on August 24th. Northwestern Minnesota was hit by an EF-2 tornado on the 28th; two-inch wide hail also fell in Minnesota on the 10th and the 28th.
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Several large fires impacted the West, most notably in California. These include the Soberanes Fire, the Chimney Fire, and the Blue Cut Fire which was 20th most destructive in state history.
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On the 8th, a stalled low pressure system caused flash flooding across the Florida Panhandle and southwestern Georgia. As of August 30th, 19.5% of the contiguous U.S. was reported to be in drought, down about 1.6% since the beginning of the month. Conditions worsened across parts of the Southeast, Northeast, and Northern Rockies. Improvement was seen across parts of the Great Plains, Southeast, and Midwest.
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July 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., July 2016 temperatures (75.3°F average) were above normal and the 14 th warmest in the 122 year period of record. Above average temperatures were widespread across the southern half of the nation and along the East Coast. Florida and New Mexico recorded their warmest July in 122 years. Average temperatures were recorded in the Northwest, Northern Plains, and parts of the Midwest. Across the U.S., precipitation in July 2016 (2.87 inches average) was slightly above average. Wetter than normal conditions occurred throughout the Northwest, Northern and Central Plains, and Midwest. Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, and North Dakota all received much above normal precipitation for the month of July. Drier than average conditions occurred in the Southwest, Central Rockies, Southern Plains, and parts of the East Coast. Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, and Wyoming all had much below normal precipitation.
Significant Weather Events
Independence Day (July 4) was the warmest in 3 years with precipitation below last year but above normal. The West South Central region was wettest since 2006. The South Atlantic region had its warmest July since 2010 with mean temperature departures 2-4°F above average across much of the region. A heat wave occurred from July 20-22 across the North Central Plains and parts of the Midwest. Heat wave conditions extended from the Midwest to the East Coast over the weekend. From July 24-27, Washington, D.C. tied its second longest streak of four days with a minimum temperature at or above 80°F. On July 2, Wichita, KS received 5.72 inches of rain, which was the highest 1-day rainfall total on record for the month. On July 11-12, flooding occurred in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. It was the worst flooding in the area since June 2012. On July 16, thunderstorms caused significant flash flooding in North Carolina’s Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill (the Triangle region), resulting in numerous road closures and water rescues. On July 30, heavy rainfall in Maryland’s Baltimore metro area resulted in significant flash flooding. Over 5,400 severe weather incidents were reported during July. Most reports were driven by high winds across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern regions. Dry conditions in California contributed to multiple wildfires throughout the month, focused in southern California and along the central coast. 81,600 acres were destroyed along with 75 homes. Early in the month, the Hot Pot Fire burned in northern Nevada, spreading over 122,000 acres in a 7day period. As of August 2, 21.1% of the U.S. was in drought, an increase of 4.9% from late June. Drought conditions worsened in parts of the Southeast, Great Plains, and Northeast. A drought watch was declared for the first time since 2002 in New York. Drought and wildfires remain severe across California.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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June 2016 Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., June 2016 temperatures (71.8°F average) were record warm for the month, the warmest in 122 years, breaking the previous record set in 1933. Above average temperatures were strongest in the Central Plains and throughout the West. Utah and Arizona recorded their warmest June in 122 years. No state in the contiguous U.S. had below normal June temperatures. Across the U.S., precipitation in June 2016 (2.46 inches average) was below average and the 14th driest for the 122 year period of record. Drier than average conditions occurred throughout the Northern and Central Plains, Midwest, and Northeast. Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Massachusetts were exceptionally dry in June 2016. Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Virginia all received above normal rainfall.
Significant Weather Events
Father’s Day (June 19) was warmer than normal with the least rainfall in 55+ years. Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, and Phoenix were all warmest in 55+ years. The Northern Plains region was very warm during the month of June with most locations recording temperatures 3-6°F above normal. For all but one day of the month (June 7), the Midwest region reported severe weather. Tornadoes were reported in Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio. 4 tornadoes were also reported across the Southeast region; this is well below the median number of tornadoes that usually occur in the Southeast during the month of June. On June 1-2, Houston recorded 7.5 inches of rain, which surpassed the city’s monthly average rainfall amount. The heavy rainfall worsened flood conditions that carried over from the month of May. On June 6, Tropical Storm Colin made landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida, bringing heavy rainfall to the Southeast region. On June 23-24, historic flooding in West Virginia destroyed over 1,500 homes and caused at least 23 fatalities. On June 15, the Cedar Fire ignited in east-central Arizona and consumed nearly 46,000 acres of land. In late June, the Erskine Fire began in Southern California and charred over 48,000 acres of land. This wildfire ranks as the 15th most destructive in California history. Several other wildfires raged throughout the state during the month of June. As of June 28th, 16.2% of the U.S. was in drought, an increase of 3.5% from late May. Drought worsened in parts of the Northwest, Northern Plains, Northeast, and Southeast. Drought conditions remain severe across California.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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May 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • •
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Across the U.S., May 2016 temperatures (60.3°F average) were near normal and close to the median value of the 122 year period of record. Above average temperatures were strongest in the Pacific Northwest with the northernmost states, West Coast, and Florida coming in above average as well. Washington was the only state that came in much warmer than average. Cooler than average conditions were recorded in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia, and Maryland. Near-average temperatures were experienced through the Southwest and parts of the Central Plains, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions. Across the U.S., precipitation in May 2016 (3.04 inches average) was slightly above average for the 122 year period of record. Parts of the Rockies, Southwest, Central Plains and Mid-Atlantic received above normal rainfall. Virginia and Delaware both recorded their 5th wettest May in 122 years. Drier than average conditions occurred in Washington, Minnesota, and Michigan as well as parts of the Northeast and Southeast.
Significant Weather Events
The Pacific Northwest saw strong high pressure the first two weeks of the month, resulting in temperatures of more than 10°F above normal. The Northeast region experienced severe thunderstorms on May 1-2 which produced baseball-sized hail in Maryland and flash flooding in both Maryland and West Virginia. For 20 of 31 days in the month, parts of the Midwest region reported severe weather. Tornadoes were reported on May 1, 9-11, 23-27, and 31. Tornadoes in southeastern Oklahoma resulted in two fatalities on the 9th of the month while on May 10, a tornado injured several people in Kentucky. 5 tornadoes were also reported across the Southeast, bringing damage to Wilmington, NC on May 5 and to Vero Beach, FL on May 17. Tropical Depression Bonnie made landfall in South Carolina on May 29, resulting in a partial closure of I-95 due to flooding. May saw historic flooding in Texas, resulting in at least 12 confirmed fatalities. Eleven locations in Texas set records for monthly total rainfall and another 17 set records for 24-hour precipitation. 31 counties were declared disaster areas. In mid-May, lightning ignited several fires in Arizona, burning across thousands of acres. As of May 31st, 12.7% of the U.S. was in drought, down considerably from conditions in late April. Improvement was seen across parts of the Great Basin and Plains. Northern California and Nevada also saw some relief. Drought worsened in parts of the Southeast and southern Appalachians.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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April 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., April 2016 temperatures (53.2°F average) were above normal and the 18th warmest in the 122 year period of record. Above average temperatures blanketed the western two-thirds of the country, with the warmest anomalies along the West Coast and in the Northwest. California, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho were all much warmer than average. Near-average temperatures were recorded through the Great Lakes and much of the East Coast. Cooler than average conditions were seen in New York and Vermont. Across the U.S., precipitation in April 2016 (2.95 inches average) was slightly above average and the 21st wettest in the 122 year period of record. The Southwest and Great Plains all received above normal precipitation. States from Montana over to North Dakota, and down through Texas were all much wetter than normal. Drier than average conditions were experienced throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, as well as along the Northwest Coast.
Significant Weather Events
Early in the month, the Northeast region was met with much cooler than normal temperatures. New York and New England felt the brunt of this and on April 4th and 5th saw temperatures up to 30˚F below normal. High winds resulted in widespread fallen tree damage across New Jersey and Delaware on the 2nd of the month. On April 11-12 severe hailstorms hit San Antonio and north Texas. The Texas Insurance Council believes that it will be the costliest hailstorm in Texas history, with over $1 billion in estimated damages. A potent storm system impacted much of the High Plains on April 15-18, bringing widespread rainfall and severe weather to the region. The same storm system also brought significant snowfall to Colorado’s Front Range on April 15-17, reaching up to 50 inches in some higher elevations. On April 17-18 a storm system resulted in crippling flooding for Houston, with well over ten inches of rainfall reported. Thousands of properties were damaged, homes evacuated, and rescues necessitated. Heavy rain in Las Vegas on April 9th and 30th resulted in flash flooding and travel disruptions. Dozens of tornadoes were reported across eastern and central Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas on April 26th. High winds were also reported throughout the Ohio Valley and Texas. Most of the damage was limited to downed trees and power lines. As of May 3rd, 14.6% of the U.S. was in drought, down slightly from the prior month. Improvement was seen across parts of the Northwest, Northern and Southern Plains, and Rockies. Northern California also saw some relief. Drought worsened in parts of the Southwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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March 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., March 2016 temperatures (47.5°F average) were well above average and the 3rd warmest for the month in the 122 year period of record. Each state in the contiguous U.S. had above normal March temperatures; although, no state reached record warmth for the month. Warmest anomalies were recorded in the Rockies, Central and Northern Plains, Midwest, and along the East Coast. Across the U.S., precipitation in March 2016 (2.89 inches average) was slightly above average and 26th wettest in the 122 year period of record. Wetter than normal conditions were experienced along the West Coast, in the Midwest, Texas, and the Lower Mississippi Valley. Drier than average conditions were experienced in portions of the Southwest, in Kansas, and along the East Coast, where eight states were much drier than average. New Mexico had its driest March on record.
Significant Weather Events*
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) trended warmer than normal driven by eastern markets. Easter Sunday (March 27) had near normal temperatures in the U.S. and was wettest since 2009. Major markets of NYC, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Salt Lake City all received measurable snow during the month, although all amounts were below LY. Week 1 brought several inches of snow to the Mid-Atlantic region. Significant snow and ice fell across portions of the Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes during week 4; the Denver International Airport was closed on the 23rd due to significant snow. In week 5, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh all received snow. On March 28, a Great Basin snowstorm impacted Nevada and southern Idaho. Heavy rains early and late month caused devastating flooding across the South Central region. On March 8-12, eastern Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi saw rainfall totals over 18 inches, and in the case of northeastern Louisiana, over 22 inches. Hundreds of homes were flooded across the region, roads and institutions were closed, and evacuations were ordered. Much needed rain fell in California bringing San Francisco and Sacramento their wettest March since 2011; Los Angeles since 2012. Flooding and mudslides impacted northern California on March 11. Conversely, Phoenix recorded its 3rd rain-free February/March in 122 years. Severe weather picked up during the final two weeks of March. Hail, high winds, and tornadoes impacted parts of the Gulf Coast, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Plains. As of March 29, 15.1% of the U.S. was in drought, up slightly from the prior month. Improvement was seen across parts of the Northwest and northern California; conditions worsened in the Southwest and parts of the Southern and Central Plains.
*All statistics are based on the National Retail Federation calendar. The month of March spans February 28-April 2. Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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February 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., February 2016 temperatures (39.5°F average) were above average for the 122-year period of record. It was the seventh warmest February on record. Warmer than average temperatures occurred across most of the U.S. The Northeast, Michigan, and much of the western half of the country, 21 states in total, recorded much above average temperatures. While the rest of the country was warmer than normal, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia trended near average. Across the U.S., precipitation in February 2016 (1.93 inches average) was slightly below average for the month. Locations west of the Mississippi received near or below average precipitation for the month. Above average precipitation occurred east of the Mississippi, with the wettest deviations in the northeastern part of the country.
Significant Weather Events*
Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) was the coldest since 2007 with below normal rain and above normal snow. President’s Day (Feb. 15) was the warmest since 2005 with the most precipitation since 1998. Despite the warmth, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions had their most holiday snowfall since 2011. Snow fell from February 1st to 3rd across northeastern Colorado, northwestern Kansas, central Nebraska, Iowa, and upper Michigan. High winds from the storm created blizzard conditions, snow drifts, power outages, and the closure of Interstate 80 across much of Nebraska. A winter storm passed through coastal areas from New York to Maine on February 8 th, leaving behind up to 11 inches of snow. Another winter storm in the Northeast from the 15th to 16th brought up to 22 inches of snow locally. The storm contributed to numerous accidents, power outages, and hundreds of delayed or cancelled flights. During February 24th to 25th a storm raged across parts of Illinois and Indiana with reports of blizzard conditions. Michigan experienced the heaviest snow from the storm. There were 441 reports of severe weather across the Southeast during the month, most of which came in on the 23rd and 24th. There were 53 confirmed tornadoes in the region, the most since 1950. Tornadoes were also reported in east central Mississippi on February 2nd and from southwestern Louisiana to central Mississippi on February 15th. Dry conditions led to fire concerns in several locations, with grassland fires sparking in Missouri and a 1,700 acre fire breaking out near Amarillo, Texas. As of March 1st, 14.3% of the U.S. was in drought, down slightly since the prior month. Improvement was seen across parts of the Northwest and Northeast; conditions worsened in parts of the Southern Plains and Southwest. 38% of California remains in the worst category of drought.
*All statistics are based on the National Retail Federation calendar. The month of February spans Jan 31-Feb 27. Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
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January 2016
Temperature and Precipitation Statistics • • • • • •
Across the U.S., January 2016 (32.2°F average) temperatures were above average, resulting in the 34th warmest January in the 122 year period of record. Warmer than average temperatures were observed across the Northern Tier of the country, into the Central Plains and along the West Coast. Maine recorded its 11th warmest January on record. Portions of the Southeast and Mid-South saw cooler than average temperatures for the month. Nationally, U.S. precipitation in January 2016 (2.03 inches average) ranked as the 36th driest in the 122 year period of record. The Southwest and Florida received above average precipitation for the month. Parts of Florida were record wet, contributing to the 4th wettest January on record for the state. Most of the East saw drier than normal conditions, as well as the Midwest and Southern Plains. Ohio was 9th driest on record.
Significant Weather Events* •
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On January 22-24 a historic winter storm hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, dropping snow from Arkansas to Massachusetts. Awarded a category 4 (crippling) rating on the Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale, the storm ranked as the fourth most impactful winter storm since 1950. Over 100 million people were affected; there were 13,000 cancelled flights, widespread power outages, and severe coastal flooding. In the Northeast, Philadelphia and Washington National airports received their latest first trace of snow on record, on January 12. Shortly after, the 22-24 winter storm dropped up to 42 inches of snow on parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Multiple locations along the New Jersey and Delaware Coasts experienced moderate-to-major flooding. Storms battered southern California and the Southwest during the first week of the month, with heavy rainfall in California leading to flooding and mudslides. In the second week of the month (1/9 – 1/14) storm systems brought snow to the Midwest through the Ohio Valley, leading to several multi-vehicle accidents that closed interstate highways in the Midwest. In Michigan, on the 17th, whiteout conditions and a slippery roadway led to a 200 car pile-up, closing I-94 for most of the day. January 19-20 brought cold conditions to much of the Southeast, with minimum temperatures falling below 25˚F across a broad portion of the region north of Florida. Flooding continued across the Lower Mississippi River Valley, notably in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. As of the February 2nd U.S. Drought Monitor report, 15.5 percent of the country was in drought, down 3.2 percent since the end of December, which is the smallest drought footprint since October 2010. Improvement was seen across the West and Northeast, while worsening in portions of the Northern Rockies and Plains.
*All statistics are based on the National Retail Federation calendar, the month of January spans Jan 3-Jan 30. 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, the warmest in 121 years, breaking the previous record set in 1939. Exceptionally anomalous warmth overspread the eastern half of the country; record warm for 29 states. The West saw 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, spanning 121 years. This surpassed the previous record set in 1982. Above average precipitation was observed throughout the country. 23 states were much wetter than average, namely in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Central Plains, and South Atlantic regions. Iowa and Wisconsin had their wettest December on record.
Significant Weather Events
Nationally, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day trended the warmest in 55+ years, driven by record warmth across the East. Denver and Salt Lake City were the only major markets to have a white Christmas, while Nashville and Memphis had their most Christmas Day rain since 1987. New Year’s Day was warmest since 2011, but drier than LY. On the 12th-16th a swath of snow was dumped from the Cascades and Sierra Nevada Mountains through the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Denver, Salt Lake City, and Flagstaff received significant totals. The first notable lake effect snow event of the season occurred from the 19th-20th. Up to 3 feet of snow fell to the east of Lake Ontario, and up to a foot of snow east of Lake Erie. On the 23rd, several tornadoes were reported from Mississippi to Tennessee. A winter storm system brought severe weather across the country from the 26 th-29th, and was officially the deadliest storm system of the year in the U.S. The system brought heavy snow, strong winds, and bitter cold to New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, western Oklahoma and west Texas. On December 26th, deadly tornadoes swept through the Dallas area, causing exceptional damage. On the 27th several tornadoes were reported in southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. On the 26th-29th, a storm system brought heavy snowfall to the Midwest, including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan causing widespread travel disruptions. The same system brought torrential rainfall to the Mississippi Valley. Moderate to major flooding ran rampant in Illinois and Missouri, with flooding also taking place in parts of Kentucky and Indiana. Missouri was worst hit, most notable in St. Louis and St. Charles. 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.
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 impacting traffic into stores and restaurants. 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.
*All statistics are based on the National Retail Federation calendar, the month of November spans November1st – November 28th.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
www.planalytics.com | 800.882.5881
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 high ways. 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 lead 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.
*All statistics are based on the National Retail Federation calendar, the month of October spans October 4th- October 31.
Maps courtesy of NOAA National Climatic Data Center Copyright © 2016 Planalytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary and Confidential.
www.planalytics.com | 800.882.5881
