After a very chilly January I doubt that anyone was disappointed to see above average February temperatures. Those temperatures were not only above average for February, but they were also slightly above average for March as well! Unfortunately, the warmer temperatures appear to have also brought back the lack of precipitation that the area experienced through much of 2023. The average daily high in February was 56.8, 12.2 degrees above normal. The average overnight low was 33.2, 10.8 degrees above normal. This resulted in a monthly mean temperature of 45.0 degrees, 11.5 degrees above normal.
February 2024 was the second warmest February on record, only surpassed by February of 1954 which had a monthly mean temperature of 46.3. The coldest February on record was in 1979 with a very cold monthly mean temperature of 17.6. The highest temperature for the month was 80 degrees on February 26th. The coldest temperature for the month was the morning low of 11 on the 17th. There were numerous temperature records set during the month, most were record high, low temperatures.
The high of 80 on the 26th set a new record high for that date. The previous record was 74 set in 1988. The overnight low of 49 on the 1st broke the old record high low of 43 set in 2019; the low of 45 on the 2nd broke the old record high low of 40 set in 1964; the low of 45 on the 3rd broke the old record high low of 40 also set in 1964; the low of 48 on the 7th broke the old record high low of 35 set in 1999; and the low of 50 on the 8th broke the old record high low of 40 set in 1960.February brings an end to meteorological winter (December, January and February). The winter seasonal mean temperature was 35.7, 4.5 degrees above normal. It was the 7th warmest winter season on record. The warmest was 1991-92 with a mean temperature of 37.9. It should be noted, however, that with records dating back to the late 1940s, five of the seven warmest winters have occurred since 2004. The coldest winter on record was 1978-79 with a seasonal mean temperature of 19.1. Five of our seven coldest winters occurred from 1978 through 1985.
A precipitation event the first week of February accounted for nearly all of our monthly precipitation. Average precipitation for February is 1.10 inches but we only saw 0.77 inches. Fortunately January precipitation was well above average so year to date the area has received 2.64 inches, well above normal for the first two months of the year of 1.83 inches. After a very snowy January, the area saw very little February snow. A two day snowfall event mid month provided less than three quarters of an inch of snow. Snow season to date, however, the region has received 17.1 inches, well above the 14.1 inches we average through February and almost up to our seasonal average of 18.0 inches.
March brings us the start of astronomical spring on the 19th, and also starts to move us into our wetter time of the year with spring and early summer. Average precipitation for March is 2.00 inches with a long term average of 3 inches of snow during the month. Afternoon highs start the month at 50 and by the end of the month should be reaching 62. Overnight lows range from 26 on the 1st up to 38 on the 31st.
Chuck Otte [email protected]
County Extension Agent, Retired