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Aurora Borealis as seen from High Point on October 10th, 2024 (photo courtesy of Shawn Viggiano).
Aurora Borealis as seen from High Point on October 10th, 2024 (photo courtesy of Shawn Viggiano).

New Jersey has transitioned into a worrisome drought situation following historically low October precipitation. So, too, was the September–October combined total a record low. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection issued a Drought Watch on October 17th, serving as a “heads up” that the state had been exceedingly dry for weeks. This continued through the end of the month, one in which, averaged statewide, precipitation totaled only 0.02”. This was 4.17” below the 1991–2020 normal and surpassed October 1963 as the driest October on record. Many gauges failed to collect any measurable precipitation and those that did, at best, saw no more than about 0.10”. The northern climate division averaged 0.03” (-4.42”, driest), southern division 0.01” (-4.02, driest), and coast 0.02” (-4.07”, driest).

This was not a record low precipitation just for October, rather for any month. Seven of the ten driest months since 1895 have occurred in the fall. When warm-season showers and possible late-season tropical systems fail to deliver rain to the Garden State, and early cold-season low pressure systems fail to arrive, extended dry spells may occur. Still, runs of 30 or more days without measurable precipitation are quite rare. Dry streaks at some stations were continuing into November as of the report publication date (November 8th).

October precipitation futility in conjunction with the third driest September on record resulted in the driest of any pairing of consecutive months on record. The 0.80” total was 0.55” lower than the previous record in December 1980–January 1981. The southern half of the state was drier than the north, though both were woefully dry.

Latest Extremes

City, State Temp
Mannington Twp., NJ 61
Hammonton, NJ 60
Sewell, NJ 60
Upper Deerfield, NJ 60
Silas Little, NJ 60
City, State Temp
High Point Monument, NJ 41
High Point, NJ 42
Wantage, NJ 42
Walpack, NJ 44
Sussex, NJ 44
most current information as of Dec 11 2:00 AM

Latest Conditions & Forecast

New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University Meteorology Program

52°F

Wind

1 mph from the NNW

Wind Gust

3 mph from the N

Rain and Patchy Fog
48 °F
Rain and Patchy Fog
65 °F
Rain and Patchy Fog then Chance Rain
32 °F
Sunny then Sunny and Breezy
37 °F
Mostly Clear
20 °F
Sunny
36 °F
Partly Cloudy
23 °F
Partly Sunny
40 °F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain
31 °F
Chance Rain
48 °F
Chance Rain
38 °F
Chance Rain
51 °F
Chance Rain
39 °F
Chance Rain
53 °F

Overnight

Periods of rain. Patchy fog. Low around 48. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday

Periods of rain before 10am, then periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm between 10am and 1pm, then periods of rain after 1pm. Patchy fog. High near 65. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night

Periods of rain, mainly before midnight. Patchy fog before 10pm. Low around 32. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 20. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 36.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 40.

Saturday Night

A chance of rain after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday

A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night

A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday

A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night

A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday

A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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Marine fog shrouds the Brigantine Bridge that connects Atlantic City and Brigantine (Atlantic County) on September 28th (photo courtesy of Chris Stachelski).

Perhaps the title for this month’s report has captured your attention. Hope so, because while September was a rather quiet month weather-wise for New Jersey, it certainly was an unusual one. As many of you reading this report know, the prevailing winds across the middle latitudes, including New Jersey, tend to be westerlies, comprised of winds blowing from west to east. However, an unusually persistent atmospheric pattern this past month resulted in easterly winds most often blowing across the state. This led to minor coastal flooding, rip currents, and foggy conditions along the coast, and...

Low-lying fog blankets a farm field in Sparta Township (Sussex County) on the morning of August 16th (photo courtesy of Nick Stefano).

While it is exceedingly rare to see monthly or seasonal temperature departures from normal differ in sign or even notable magnitude between southern and northern portions of New Jersey, such is not always the case for precipitation. This August and summer as a whole exemplify such disparities. While rain was often plentiful in the north, more often than not, the south did not see gauges fill as much or as often. This report will first address August conditions in the Garden State, finishing with a recap of climatological summer (June–August). August precipitation averaged 6.52” across NJ...

A smoke plume from the early July Tea Time Hill fire in Wharton State Forest (photo courtesy of the NJ Forest Fire Service).

Yet another warmer-than-normal July is in the books. This first sentence is just how last July’s report began. With a statewide average temperature of 77.9°, July 2024 ranked as the 7th warmest since records commenced in 1895. It was 2.5° above the 1991–2010 normal. The average high of 87.8° was 2.1° above normal, ranking 10th warmest. The average low of 68.0° was 2.9° above normal, ranking 3rd warmest. Eight of the ten warmest Julys have occurred since 2010 and ten of fifteen since 1999. Only three Julys in the past 25 years have averaged below the 1991–2010 normal. The June-July average...

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An Atmospheric 180°: September 2024 Recap

October 8, 2024 - 4:08pm -- Dave Robinson

Marine fog shrouds the Brigantine Bridge that connects Atlantic City and Brigantine (Atlantic County) on September 28th (photo courtesy of Chris Stachelski).

Perhaps the title for this month’s report has captured your attention. Hope so, because while September was a rather quiet month weather-wise for New Jersey, it certainly was an unusual one. As many of you reading this report know, the prevailing winds across the middle latitudes, including New Jersey, tend to be westerlies, comprised of winds blowing from west to east. However, an unusually persistent atmospheric pattern this past month resulted in easterly winds most often blowing across the state. This led to minor coastal flooding, rip currents, and foggy conditions along the coast, and to moderate air temperatures and exceedingly dry conditions throughout NJ.

Looking first at precipitation, the general absence of notable storms either of coastal, tropical, or thunderstorm varieties led to the 3rd driest September on record. With records back 130 years to 1895, the statewide average of 0.83” was only greater than 0.29” in 1941 and 0.38” in 1914. The month fell 3.33” below the 1991–2020 average. The northern climate division averaged 1.12” (-3.34”, 7th driest), southern division 0.63” (-3.36”, 3rd driest), and coastal division 0.94” (-2.95”, 6th driest).

NJ’s statewide average September temperature was quite close to its 1991–2020 normal, coming in at 67.0°, 0.1° above normal. This ranks 31st warmest of the past 130 years due to the most recent 30-year average period being considerably warmer than earlier decades of the 20th century. The average high temperature of 76.7° was 0.5° below normal and the average minimum of 57.3° was 0.7° above normal, both indicative of a month with a prevailing maritime influence. The north averaged 65.0° (+0.1°, 34th warmest), south 68.2° (+0.1°, 31st warmest), and coast 68.7° (no departure, 35th warmest).

Split Precipitation Personality: August and Summer 2024 Recaps

September 6, 2024 - 5:57pm -- Dave Robinson

Low-lying fog blankets a farm field in Sparta Township (Sussex County) on the morning of August 16th (photo courtesy of Nick Stefano).

While it is exceedingly rare to see monthly or seasonal temperature departures from normal differ in sign or even notable magnitude between southern and northern portions of New Jersey, such is not always the case for precipitation. This August and summer as a whole exemplify such disparities. While rain was often plentiful in the north, more often than not, the south did not see gauges fill as much or as often. This report will first address August conditions in the Garden State, finishing with a recap of climatological summer (June–August).

August precipitation averaged 6.52” across NJ. This is 1.95” above the 1991–2020 normal and ranks as the 22nd wettest August since records commenced in 1895. The northern climate division (Hunterdon-Somerset-Union and all counties to their north) averaged 8.53”. This is 3.97” above normal and ranks as the 10th wettest. The southern division (Mercer-Middlesex-Monmouth and all but immediate coastal areas to the south) came in at 5.39”. This is 0.82” above normal and ranks 41st wettest of the past 130 Augusts. The coastal division averaged 4.37”, which is 0.23” below normal and ranks 60th wettest (71st driest).

Despite wide-ranging weekly differences, statewide August temperatures were just 0.3° above normal, averaging 73.9°. This ranks as the 30th warmest back to 1895, certainly not near a ranking close to the mid-point of the entire period of record, thus exemplifying how much NJ has warmed over recent decades. The north averaged 72.2° (+0.3°, 28th warmest), the south 75.0° (+0.4°, 30th warmest), and the coast 75.0° (+0.3°, 25th warmest).

Frying Pan Persistence: July 2024 Recap

August 12, 2024 - 4:57pm -- Dave Robinson

A smoke plume from the early July Tea Time Hill fire in Wharton State Forest (photo courtesy of the NJ Forest Fire Service).

Yet another warmer-than-normal July is in the books. This first sentence is just how last July’s report began. With a statewide average temperature of 77.9°, July 2024 ranked as the 7th warmest since records commenced in 1895. It was 2.5° above the 1991–2010 normal. The average high of 87.8° was 2.1° above normal, ranking 10th warmest. The average low of 68.0° was 2.9° above normal, ranking 3rd warmest. Eight of the ten warmest Julys have occurred since 2010 and ten of fifteen since 1999. Only three Julys in the past 25 years have averaged below the 1991–2010 normal. The June-July average of 75.8° is the second warmest, only exceeded by 76.1° in 2010. The year-to-date average through July of 55.2° also ranks second warmest following 55.7° in 2012. Within the northern climate division, the average was 76.6° (+2.9°, 4th warmest), southern 78.8° (+2.3°, 9th warmest), and coastal 77.7° (+1.5°, 12th warmest). Summing things up, this month’s report title seemed an appropriate choice.

The 4.01” statewide average July precipitation was 0.70” below normal, ranking 52nd driest of the past 130 Julys. The north averaged 4.36” (-0.36’, 59th driest), south 3.77” (-0.97”, 51st driest), and coast 4.12” (-0.26”, 63rd driest).

Scorching: June 2024 and January–June Recaps

July 7, 2024 - 2:17pm -- Dave Robinson

Photo of a rain shaft over lower Greenwood Lake (Passaic County) taken from Hewitt on June 7th (photo courtesy of Rich Stewart).

Above-average temperatures ruled in June. So, what else is new? As will be seen later in this report, the first half of 2024 ranked as the second warmest since statewide records commenced in 1895. June 2024 was also the 7th consecutive month with temperatures above the 1991–2020 average and 10th of the last 12 in that category. June itself came in as New Jersey’s 2nd warmest, tied with 1943 and just behind 2010. Six of the 11 warmest have occurred since 2005. The 73.6° average was 3.3° above normal. The average high of 85.1° was 4.1° above normal, tied for the 2nd warmest, and the average low of 62.0° was 2.4° above normal, ranking 4th warmest. Each of the three NOAA state climate divisions had their 2nd warmest June. The north averaged 71.7° (+3.1°), south 74.8° (+3.4°), and coast 73.8° (+3.3°).

As often occurs during the warm season, the rainfall pattern was a mixed bag as the month progressed and also across the state on any given day. Overall, the state experienced a dry month, with the majority of the state considered Abnormally Dry (D0) in the last US Drought Monitor assessment of the month. With some rain falling after the June 30th approximate 7–8 AM observing time of most National Weather Service Cooperative and Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) stations, any daytime or evening rain is entered into the record book as falling on July 1st. Thus, the official map below does not include some of the heavy post-observing time heavy rain in Cape May County the morning of the 30th nor rain occurring elsewhere in the state later in the day. For the month, the state average 2.74”, which is 1.56” below normal and ranks 28th driest. The north averaged 2.23” (-2.38”, 13th driest), south 3.07” (-1.07”, 49th driest), and coast 2.84” (-1.01”, 51st driest).

A Little of This, a Little of That/Mild and Damp: May/Spring 2024 Recaps

June 7, 2024 - 5:08pm -- Dave Robinson

A rainbow (note a slight double rainbow) early on the evening of May 15th, looking east from Shawnee, PA, across the Delaware River with the NJ Kittatinny Ridge in the background (photo courtesy of Erin Daly).

As spring turns to summer, all in Jersey can be pleased that water supplies are in good shape. Also, while it took some time to become established, by late May, warmer temperatures brought out summer wardrobes. Spring (March–May) conditions will be covered later in this report, but first a look at May. As the title of the monthly portion of this narrative suggests, May 2024 never established a consistent atmospheric pattern. There were plenty of episodes where light to moderate showers dotted the state, but never a broad soaker. Temperatures fluctuated on a weekly basis, without a persistent leaning until warmth prevailed later in the month. Put it all together and May ended on a green note born of somewhat below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures. The statewide average temperature of 63.9° was 2.7° above the 1991–2020 normal. This ranks as the 11th mildest May dating back to 1895. This anomaly was driven by elevated minimum temperatures that averaged 54.0° which is 3.8° above normal and ranks as the 4th warmest on record. This no doubt due to persistent nighttime cloud cover. The average high temperature of 73.7° was 1.4° above normal, ranking 35th warmest. The northern climate division averaged 63.0° (+3.1°, 7th warmest). Across the southern division the average temperature was 64.5° (+2.3°, 13th warmest). The coastal division averaged 63.1° (+2.1°, 11th warmest).

In the End...Rather Normal: April 2024 Recap

May 7, 2024 - 7:32pm -- Dave Robinson

Cherry Blossom trees in full bloom at Branch Brook Park in Newark (Essex County) on April 10th. Photo by Tariq Zehawi/NorthJersey.com.

You would never have guessed it by looking at most days, with some wet, some dry, some warm, some cold, but put it all together and a rather normal April temperature- and precipitation-wise emerged from quite a variety of days and weeks. This is often the case during a transitional month (mid-fall or mid-spring), but this month took it to a bit of an extreme. Toss in a partial solar eclipse and an earthquake and it was quite the month for all who enjoy observing our fascinating world and solar system.

April precipitation averaged 4.14” across New Jersey. This is 0.44” above the 1991–2020 normal and ranks as the 42nd wettest of records dating back to 1895. Generally, the north received more rain than the south. The north climate division averaged 4.59” (+0.69”, 40th wettest), south division 3.89” (+0.31”, 48th wettest), and coastal division 3.65” (+0.10”, 61st wettest).

The year-to-date precipitation (rain and melted frozen precipitation) is 19.86”. This is 5.61” above normal and ranks as the 5th wettest January–April period on record. The top total is 22.98” in 1983 and the second through four wettest occurred in 1979, 1958, and 1953. The past 12 months have seen a state average 56.98” of precipitation, which is the 6th wettest of all such May–April periods dating back to 1895.

The Lion Roars: March 2024 Recap

April 5, 2024 - 8:04pm -- Dave Robinson

Looking south from Island Beach State Park toward Long Beach Island and the Barnegat Lighthouse on March 20th (photo by Dave Robinson).

So much for March flipping from lion to lamb or vice versa. March 2024 was often a lion throughout, with frequent roaring winds and multiple rain events producing a near-record monthly precipitation total and occasional flooding. The first half of the month ran at a record-warm pace, the monthly average later to be tempered by a second half that was cooler than the first. Still, the month emerged as the 9th mildest on record. Befitting the overall mild conditions, snowfall was scarce to non-existent.

Winds gusted to 35 mph or higher at one or more Rutgers NJ Weather Network (NJWxNet) station on 16 days, exceeding 40 mph on 11 of those days. Precipitation (rain and the water equivalent of the very little snow that fell) averaged 7.76” across the state. This is 3.56” above the 1991–2020 normal and ranks as the third wettest March since records commenced in 1895. The northwest was least wet with 6.00”–7.00” falling. Totals increased to the southeast where near coastal areas received 9.00”–10.00”. The northern climate division averaged 7.01” (+3.00, 6th wettest), the southern division 8.15” (+3.83”, 3rd wettest), and the coastal division 8.98” (+4.56, 2nd wettest).

The statewide average March temperature was 46.0°. This is 5.0° above normal and ranks as the 9th mildest of the past 130 years. The average high temperature of 55.6° was 4.7° above normal and ranks 10th mildest. The average low of 36.3° was 5.1° above normal and ranks 4th mildest. The northern division averaged 43.9° (+5.1°, 9th mildest), southern division 47.2° (+4.8°, 8th mildest), and coastal division 47.0° (+4.8°, 7th mildest).

Lost Winter: February 2024 & Winter 2023/2024 Recaps

March 7, 2024 - 5:34pm -- Dave Robinson

Sunset at Colonial Park in Franklin Township (Somerset County) on February 15th (photo by Dave Robinson).

Perhaps the title of this report is a bit overstated when it comes to February weather conditions, but not by all that much. However, like much of the coterminous United States, it applies rather appropriately to the December 2023–February 2024 winter. New Jersey’s winter conditions follow at the end of this report, with February discussed first.

February 2024 was on the dry side. In fact, the statewide average precipitation (rain and melted snow) of 1.55” was 1.31” below the 1991–2020 normal and ranks as the 12th driest since records began in 1895. The northern climate division averaged 1.68” (-1.11”, 12th driest), the southern division 1.47” (-1.42”, 10th driest), and the coastal division 1.44” (-1.63”, 7th driest).

February snowfall averaged 7.9” across NJ. This was just 0.3” below normal, ranking as the 51st snowiest since 1895. The North snow division averaged 12.4” (+2.1", 40th snowiest), Central 12.4" (+3.3", 36th snowiest), and South 3.2" (-3.5", 58th least snowy). The vast majority of the snow fell in two events four days apart, with mild temperatures that soon followed prohibiting the snow cover for sticking around for too long.

In fact, mild days outnumbered cold ones during February, leading to a monthly statewide average of 37.0°, which was 3.1° above normal and ranks as the 14th mildest on record. The statewide average daily high temperature of 46.3° was 3.2° above normal and ranks 16th mildest. The daily minimum of 27.8° was 3.2° above normal, ranking 9th mildest. The north averaged 34.9° (+3.6°, 12th mildest), south 38.3° (+2.8°, 16th mildest), and coast 38.4° (+2.4°, 16th mildest).

Take Your Pick: January 2024 Recap

February 6, 2024 - 8:52pm -- Dave Robinson

An ice-encased walkway and railings generated from spray from Great Falls (background) in Paterson (Passaic County) during the cold January outbreak (photo courtesy of Liz Reilly).

The first month of 2024 provided a potpourri of weather happenings, including excessive rainfall and flooding, multiple snowfalls, frequent strong winds, frigid days, occasional warmth, and culminating with persistent dismal (aka damp, cloudy) conditions. Something for anyone or perhaps not favored conditions for most people. Totaling up the multiple precipitation episodes, this month emerged as the 6th wettest January on record dating back to 1895. It was the wettest January in 25 years and follows this past December, which was the wettest on record. The statewide 6.39” of rain and melted snow was 2.90” above the 1991–2020 normal. The northern climate division averaged 6.70” (+3.20”, 5th wettest), the southern division 6.18” (+2.71”, 7th wettest), and the coastal division 6.48” (+2.97”, 6th wettest).

January snowfall averaged 7.0” across NJ. This is just 0.2” below normal and ranks as the 53rd snowiest January of the past 130 years. Snow divisions include the north, which averaged 8.9” (-0.5”, 52nd snowiest), central coming in with 5.9” (-1.8”, 65th snowiest), and south with 6.6” (+0.9”, 43rd snowiest).

Temperatures fluctuated throughout the month, ultimately averaging 34.7° statewide. This was 3.0° above normal and ranks as the 20th mildest January. The north averaged 32.3° (+3.4°, 17th mildest), south 36.1° (+2.7°, 22nd mildest), and coast 36.9° (+2.5°, 24th mildest). The statewide average maximum of 42.0° was 1.7° above normal, ranking as the 30th warmest. The statewide average minimum of 27.4° was 4.2° above normal, ranking 16th mildest.

The Wet Bandits Strike/Warmth with Precipitation Indecision: December/Annual 2023 Report

January 5, 2024 - 11:31am -- Dave Robinson

Flooding from the nearby Pompton River in Wayne (Passaic County) on December 19th, 2023. Photo by Julian Leshay/NJ Advance Media.

It was a wet December, of this there is no doubt. In fact, it was New Jersey’s wettest 12th month on record, dating back to 1895. On multiple occasions, rainfall arrived in multiple-inch increments, leading to episodes of minor to major stream and river flooding. Though hardly maliciously, Mother Nature certainly left the tap flowing far too long and often!

Monthly rainfall (with a little melted snowfall added to the mix in some locations) averaged 8.20” across the state (Figure 1). This was 3.93” above the 1991–2020 normal and was 0.33” above the previous wettest December in 1996 (Table 1). Precipitation averaged 8.51” (+4.26”, 3rd wettest) in the northern climate division (Hunterdon-Somerset-Union northward), 8.02” (+3.74”, 2nd wettest) over the southern division (Mercer-Middlesex-Monmouth mostly southward), and 7.88” (+3.52”, 2nd wettest) in the coastal division (generally east of the Garden State Parkway from Monmouth to Cape May).

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