January 2025 Report
The first month of 2025 was cold, dry, and windy. It was the coldest January since 2014, one of the driest of the past 131 years, dew points dropped below zero or into the single digits on 23 days, and winds gusted to 40 mph or higher on 16 days. No doubt, a profitable outcome for those in the lip balm business!
December, Annual 2024 Report
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.
ONJSC's Top 10 NJ Weather and Climate Events of 2024
For the 16th consecutive year, we in the state climate office have evaluated the myriad daily, monthly, and annual observations gathered across New Jersey during the course of the year to choose what we feel were the most significant and impactful 10 weather and climate events of 2024. More about each event can be found in the monthly narratives posted on our website. You might be tempted to rearrange the rankings, particularly as some of the events on the list may have affected you more than others ranked higher. Or perhaps you best recall one that didn't make the list.
November and Fall 2024 Recaps
Following a remarkably dry, record-breaking October, and the two driest consecutive months on record, you had to wonder if November would have anything of note to add to a rather peculiar fall. In short, it did not disappoint. Drought continued (but it precipitated!), warmth prevailed, and a November snowfall record was established for a single storm and location. More on fall 2024 will be presented below. First, a recap of November conditions.
October 2024 Recap
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).
September 2024 Recap
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.
August and Summer 2024 Recaps
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).
July 2024 Recap
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.
June 2024 and January–June Recaps
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°).
May and Spring 2024 Recaps
May Overview
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.