logo
Climatology Stats from a Warm and Dry Meteorological Winter
news image
Special Stories
11 Mar 2022 2:00 AM
[Smoke over Twin Lakes in Mono County, California, on January 24, 2022. Meteorological winter was quite warm and dry across the U.S. as drought expanded across the parts of the West in February 2022, including California. (U.S. Forest Service)] [From NOAA and NOAA NCEI]  The end of February ushered in the end of meteorological winter (December, January and February), which ranked as the nation’s 12th-driest winter in 128 years. Drought conditions across the western U.S. were exacerbated by the dry winter. Meteorological winter was quite mild and dry across the contiguous U.S. The average temperature was 34.8 degrees F, 2.5 degrees above average, ranking in the warmest third of the winter record.  Winter temperatures were above average across much of the Lower 48 with Georgia and South Carolina experiencing their seventh-warmest winter on record. Temperatures ranked near average from the Pacific Northwest to the western Great Lakes. No states ranking below average for the winter season. Total winter precipitation was 5.76 inches — 1.03 inches below average — which ranks as the 12th-driest winter on record. Precipitation was below average across portions of the West, central and southern Plains, Gulf Coast and across parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Louisiana had its third-driest winter on record, Nebraska had its fourth driest and Kansas saw its fifth driest. Climatologically speaking, winter is the wet season across much of the western U.S. If the dry conditions experienced in January and February across portions of the West were to continue into March and April, insufficient water resources may result during the dry season (summer), as well as an increased potential for drought intensification and wildfires in the fall. Precipitation was above average across parts of the Upper Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee valleys. Minnesota had its 10th-wettest winter. Edited for WeatherNation by Mace Michaels
All Weather News
Thursday & Friday Severe Weather Threat
Thursday & Friday Severe Weather Threat
Confidence is increasing in the threat of str
29 Mar 2023 2:50 AM
Latest Storm Continues to Slam California With Rain and Snow
Latest Storm Continues to Slam California With Rain and Snow
CALIFORNIA - We have had an incredible snow s
29 Mar 2023 2:40 AM
Avalanche Risk Remains Considerable Through the Rockies With More Snow This Week
Avalanche Risk Remains Considerable Through the Rockies With More Snow This Week
Are you headed into the High Country over the
29 Mar 2023 12:45 AM
Winter Continues in the Western U.S. With Snow in the Rockies & Cascades
Winter Continues in the Western U.S. With Snow in the Rockies & Cascades
The same storm system that is impacting Calif
29 Mar 2023 12:45 AM
Multiple Waves of Snow for the High Plains This Week
Multiple Waves of Snow for the High Plains This Week
The last few days of March will feature an ac
29 Mar 2023 12:40 AM
Snow Stretches From the Great Lakes to the Northeast
Snow Stretches From the Great Lakes to the Northeast
A quick-moving area of low pressure will swee
29 Mar 2023 12:35 AM
Flooding & Strong Storms in the Deep South
Flooding & Strong Storms in the Deep South
Lingering storms will continue to push along
28 Mar 2023 11:15 PM