February 2019 Weather Review: Largely Uninspiring

 

 

February 2019 was one of the least interesting months, weather-wise, in a while.  In fact, it was so uneventful I was tempted to not even bother with a monthly recap.  Although its average temperature was slightly above average (+0.9 degree) it was the coldest February since 2015.  Just 2.6" of snow was measured, the smallest amount in February in seven years (ironically, the milder February's preceding it all had more snow).  And although the amount of snow was well below the average of 9.2", the month's total precipitation (3.14") was an average amount (which is 3.09").  The coldest and mildest readings of the month occurred during the first week: 11° on 2/1, 65° on 2/5. 

 

Although the month wasn't too far from average, just three days had mean temperatures that were average.  Nineteen days were five or more degrees above or below average.  There were half a dozen days with highs of 35° or colder (three were 32° or colder) and four with highs of 55° or warmer.  The mildest stretch was the six days from 2/3 thru 2/8, which were 12 degrees above average (high/low of 54°/37°).  The coldest temperatures were experienced at the beginning and end of the month, with the first two days 13 degrees below average (28°/14°), and the final three days eight degrees colder than average (35°/25°). 

 

 

Although only 2.6" of snow fell (during what, on average, is the snowiest month of the winter) an amount this small isn't all that rare, happening about once every four or five years.  However, the last time a February as chilly as this year's had less snow was in 2004, which was 0.4 degrees above average and had just 0.7" of snow.  Finally, the only excitement about snow this February was the 1.2" snowfall on the 12th, which was the first snowfall of an inch or more in nearly three months (since the snowstorm of 11/15).  And it fell on the date most likely to have a snowfall of one-inch+.

Previous February recaps:

2018

2017

2015

Comments

[William]

I'm glad this was posted despite the author's temptation to not publish a monthly recap. they're one of my five favorite things to read in the weather blog. crazy to think this almost became the first month since January and February of 2016 in which a monthly recap was not posted to the blog. I really look forward to reading more monthly weather recaps in the future.

[William]

December, January and February combined this winter had 3.7" of snow. only six meteorological winters have had less snow, most recently in 2001-2002, when 3.5" of snow was measured, all of which fell in January.