February 2017 Tops February 2012 To Become Mildest on Record
Propelled by an eight-day period between Feb. 18-25, which had temperatures that were sixteen degrees above average (high/low of 61/44), February 2017 became the mildest on record. Five days had highs in the 60s and one reached 70° - the earliest 70 in ten years. And on Feb. 24 the mildest low temperature ever recorded in the month of February was reported (58°). This month was in stark contrast to two years ago when New York experienced it coldest February since 1934. This year had no Arctic outbreaks; six days had below-average temperatures, in three pairs of two. However, despite the abundance of mild conditions, winter made a jolting cameo appearance on Feb. 9, when the day after the high reached 63°, 9.4" of snow fell during the morning. The day following the snowstorm was the only one with a high of 32° or colder.
The month was 6.3 degrees above average, not much cooler than a typical March. It was also the 20th month in a row that was warmer than average. Of these months, February 2017 had the fourth highest departure from average, behind December 2015 (+13.3 degrees); September 2015 (+6.5) and March 2016 (+6.4).
this month had six days of measurable precipitation. this was the fewest number of such days in February since 2009 and the last February with fewer days was in 2004 when there were five days.
Posted by: William | 02/16/2018 at 03:03 PM