New Brunswick, NJ

Looking back at the past month, or the first half of this year for that matter, “mysterious,” “puzzling,” or “difficult to understand” may best describe what has transpired when it comes to New Jersey’s weather and climate behavior. In other words, enigmas. More on the previous six months toward the end of this report. First a look at June, which followed a drought-busting (and hopefully not just interrupting) 7th wettest May, but resumed an only twice-broken string of months with below-normal precipitation back to May 2024 (August 2024 and May 2025). Then there were cool days that had some wondering when summer would ever arrive. That was answered with a vengeance later in the month with one of the more torrid June heatwaves on record. The worst of it ended by an unseasonable backdoor cold front.

When all was said and done, the statewide average temperature of 71.9° was 1.6° above the 1991–2020 normal. This ties with 2011 as the 9th warmest June since records commenced in 1895. Eight of the fifteen warmest Junes of the past 131 have occurred since 2005. The average high of 81.5° was 0.5° above normal and ranks 32nd warmest. The average low of 62.2° was 2.6° above normal and ranks 3rd warmest.

Rainfall was quite sparse, especially in the south. Statewide, precipitation averaged 2.64”. This was 1.66” below normal and ranks as the 25th driest June on record. This was the fourth June this century to rank so dry. While these low totals are concerning, especially in a hot summer month, the near-average rains of early spring and the wet May led the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to lift the statewide Drought Warning issued in November 2024, only retaining a Drought Watch in the Coastal South division. This retention was the result of continuing below-normal groundwater levels in this region with its sandy substrate.

If it is weather variety you enjoy, April certainly must have proved rather satisfying. Atmospherically, this was expressed by a cool, wet first half of the month and a warm, dry second half. When all was totaled and averaged, the full month emerged with above-normal temperatures and close-to-normal precipitation. Toss in one northern snow event, considerable wind, lingering drought in some areas, and a major Pinelands wildfire, and there was quite a potpourri of conditions.

Looking first at precipitation, the statewide average of rain and melted snowfall was 3.72”. This was 0.02” above the 1991–2020 normal and ranked as the 62nd wettest April dating back to the start of statewide records in 1895.

April snowfall occurred in a single event that will be discussed below. This resulted in a statewide average of 0.3”, which is 0.2” below normal and ranks as the 37th snowiest April back to 1895. The northern snow division averaged 1.2” (+0.4”, 28th snowiest), while the central and southern divisions did not record snowfall (0.6” and 0.4” below normal, respectively), situations that have occurred during numerous past Aprils.

The statewide monthly average temperature was 53.3°. This was 1.8° above the 30-year mean and ranked as the 12th mildest (3-way tie). Nine of the 16 mildest Aprils in the past 131 years have occurred over the past 23 years.

Upon updating a weather friend regarding February conditions that transpired while they were away from the region, he remarked that most of what I reported appeared to have been more along the line of nuisances, while nothing of a blockbuster status occurred. I agreed, as while there were a few plowable events, one soaker (freezing rain at higher elevations), some cold and mild days, and (like in January) quite a few windy days, precipitation and temperatures came in close to normal and not much occurred that will leave lasting memories. In many respects, this applies to the entire winter of 2024/2025 (December–February), leaving an impression among many that this season had a wintrier feel than recent years. However, it was without a major nor’easter, be one excessively wet or white. Meanwhile, when all was said and done, a statewide drought warning remained in place. This report examines February conditions followed by a winter recap.

Statewide, February precipitation (rain and melted snow) averaged 2.53”. This is 0.33” below the 1991–2020 normal and ranks 50th driest since 1895. The precipitation was quite evenly distributed across the state, although the northwest came in on the drier side. The northern climate division averaged 2.56” (-0.23”, 58th driest), the southern division 2.50” (-0.39, 46th driest), and the coastal division 2.59” (-0.48”, 51st driest).

The theme of “pressure” was selected to define the last month of 2024. In an absolute sense, this refers to a mid-December period with the highest atmospheric pressure recorded in New Jersey in over 40 years. It can also be linked with pressure differentials over the course of the month that resulted in many windy days. In a relative sense, it refers to the need to recoup the substantial precipitation deficit for the second half of the year in hopes that water resources will rebound, and by spring, drought will not be of great concern. Some progress in that direction was made from late November through December, but far more is needed in upcoming months. Following a recap of December conditions, this report will conclude with an overview of the Garden State’s weather/climate of 2024, including a link to our annual top 10 event list.

Statewide, December precipitation was more plentiful than any month since August, though still below the 1991–2020 normal. The rain and melted snow averaged 3.67”. This was 0.60” below normal and ranks as the 65th driest (66th wettest) since statewide records commenced in 1895. As seen most often throughout 2024, south Jersey was drier than the north in December. The southern climate division (Mercer/Middlesex/Monmouth south, except east of the Garden State Parkway) averaged 3.55” (-0.73”, 63rd driest/68th wettest), the coastal division (east of the Parkway) came in at 3.21” (-1.15, 55th driest/76th wettest), and the northern division (Hunterdon/Somerset/Union and north) averaged 3.92” (-0.33”, 70th driest/61st wettest).