Much of the western half and eastern third of the CONUS experienced above-average maximum temperatures for the year with Arizona ranking warmest on record. Early on December 25th, snow flurries were reported as far south as Charleston International Airport, SC, which is only its second trace of snowfall on Christmas Day since 1938. Severe drought was introduced in Maine and New York, while moderate drought expanded and abnormal dryness encompassed nearly half the region. These conditions both improved and deteriorated through winter and into spring, with the total area experiencing at least abnormally dry conditions decreasing but the total area experiencing extreme drought conditions increasing, with a small area of exceptional drought conditions developing. Maple syrup production was slowed in Connecticut, with one producer expecting to lose around $60,000 in revenue. Lower than usual streamflow on the Hudson River in New York in October led to increased sodium levels in Poughkeepsies water supply. Toggle Dropdown. Several major storms affected the Northeast during 2020. For instance, in late September, topsoil and subsoil were very dry for 80 to 100 percent of Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. There were road closures, cars trapped in floodwaters, and water rescues. Straight-line winds of up to 80 mph (36 m/s) caused extensive damage in several locations. A total of 299 tornadoes (8 unrated, 123 EF-0s, 125 EF-1s, 31 EF-2s, 11 EF-3s, 1 EF-4) were confirmed across the Southeast during the year, which is the sixth highest annual tornado count for the region since modern records began in 1950. Soil moisture conditions in the fall and early winter are important for the High Plains region because, as soils freeze, available moisture is locked in place until spring. A few northern Maine farmers initiated the process to allow for emergency haying and grazing on conservation reserve. During July, the general trend across the region was worsening conditions. Most of the contiguous U.S. experienced above-average temperatures during 2020. Baker City, in northeast Oregon, saw its warmest year on record going back to 1944 with an annual average temperature 48.3 F (9.1 C), 3.9 F (2.2 C) above normal. Severe weather in the region was spread across many months, however the most newsworthy was a severe derecho on August 10th. These areas included portions of northern New England, New York, and Pennsylvania. Such methodology was applicable to all counties in the contiguous United States. California and Nevada started the year with no drought present. Alaska experienced its coldest first two months of the year in 2020 and coldest winter (December 2019 - February 2020) since 1999. San Francisco, California, with one of the longest climate records in the state dating back to 1850, recorded its second driest year on record at 7.81 in (198.37 mm, 33% of normal). Snowfall totals of 2 to more than 8 inches were found across portions of northern Virginia, with the greatest accumulation of 11.5 inches (292 mm) measured in Bayse, VA. About 200 vehicle crashes and 125 disabled vehicles were reported by the Virginia State Police along I-81 and across northern Virginia. Although the vast majority of the Midwestern derecho impacted areas to the east of the region, it is worth noting that this was an incredibly devastating storm that caused an estimated $7.5 billion in damage, according to NOAAs U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters event database. Caribou, Maine, had its hottest June on record, all-time hottest day, longest stretch of days with a high of at least 80 degrees F (27 degrees C), and greatest number of June days with a high of at least 80 degrees F (27 degrees C). Pasture and rangeland conditions were rated very poor (the lowest level) for 70 to 90 percent of southern New England, while 10 percent of Pennsylvanias corn crop was rated very poor, making it some of the worst corn condition ratings in the country. It was only the second time since 1885 that Philadelphia recorded no snowfall during spring. Excessive rainfall, paired with high humidity, in Georgia slowed the drying down of corn, with many farmers battling whiteflies and boll rot in cotton. Low streamflow and warm water temperatures prompted several states to take actions to protect aquatic species. The center of low pressure for this storm is the lowest known pressure in or around Alaskan waters. The precursor disturbance to Tropical Storm Bertha caused a significant multi-day rainfall event across southern Florida, with accumulations of more than 8 inches in several locations. There were numerous closed roads, submerged vehicles, and dozens of water rescues. Even in these areas, the wetness became a memory as drought developed and expanded in the late summer, fall, and early winter. Population by As much as 5 inches (127 mm) of rain fell in a two-hour period on September 10, leading to flash flooding in Washington, D.C., and surrounding suburbs. On August 5th, a 42-year-old man and a 77-year-old man were struck and killed while cleaning up debris from Hurricane Isaias in Wilmington, NC. Meanwhile, for those looking to get out and enjoy the weather, fires, along with poor air quality from the smoke, impacted a range of recreational activities. This was the first EF-4 tornado in South Carolina since 1995, and it was the second of 12 tornadoes in a tornado family that traveled over 150 miles (241 km) from Middleground, GA to Murrells Inlet, SC. On April 13th, the strongest tornado of the year across the Southeast region occurred in Hampton County, SC. From April 12 to 13, a storm system produced damaging winds in the Northeast. For instance, one Rhode Island farm lost 90 percent of its saplings and another farm did not open for the holiday season. On the same day, Caribou had a low temperature of 50 degrees F (10 degrees C), its warmest minimum temperature for winter on record. From May 19th through the 21st, a slow-moving upper-level low ushered in a deep stream of moisture across the western Carolinas and southwestern Virginia, with 72-hour precipitation totals exceeding 8 inches (203 mm) and numerous reports of localized flooding. The combination of heavy rain, melting snow, and wet antecedent conditions led to flooding in central/eastern New York, the eastern half of Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Binghamton also tied its lowest maximum temperature for May with a high of 35 degrees F (2 degrees C). Climate Extremes Index (USCEI) for 2020 was 80 percent above average and ranked as seventh highest in the 111-year record. With respect to precipitation, Oklahoma experienced its fifth-wettest March on record while Texas experienced its seventh-wettest March on record. For instance, the Perkiomen Creek at Graterford, Pennsylvania, reached 19.14 feet (5.83 m), nearly a foot (0.30 m) higher than its previous record from 1935. Issued 12 January 2021: Unless otherwise noted, temperature and precipitation rankings refer to a 126-year period of record (1895-2020), and long-term average refers to the 20th century (1901-2000) value. Utah's annual BestPlaces Comfort Index of 7.1 (10=best) indicates it is about average compared to other states in the United States. The coldest temperature observed during winter 2019-20 in Washington, D.C., was 22 degrees F (-6 degrees C) and at Dulles Airport was 15 degrees F (-9 degrees C), which were the warmest minimum temperatures for winter on record. The warmth extended northward to the island of Oahu where Honolulu recorded its 3rd warmest year on record at 78.9 F (26.1 C), 1.3 F (0.8 C) above normal. Because the newest years estimate is released the following year, the current years population numbers may reflect the nearest year we have data for. On the 30th, San Juan (18982020) observed its second wettest July day on record, with 4.46 inches (113 mm) of precipitation. Population by U.S. Heavy rainfall during early December saturated vegetable fields in southern Florida, resulting in crop losses, increased disease pressure on lettuce and beans, and bloom dropping in pepper and tomato plants. On October 7, a derecho produced a 320-mile (515 km) long path of damage from central New York to eastern New England. Ohio ranked as the 7th warmest in its history and Michigan ranked 10th. Flooding and flash flooding caused fatalities in the Midwest. Thousands of Christmas tree saplings died and some mature trees dropped excessive amounts of needles or turned yellow in New England. Based on the 2-digit Hydrologic Unit Code watersheds, the California region had the lowest SWE at 76% of normal. October was mixed with respect to temperature, with three states (Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas) experiencing cooler than normal temperatures while three states (Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee) experienced warmer than normal temperatures. Louisiana experienced five landfalls: Tropical Storm Cristobal and Hurricanes Laura, Marco, Delta, and Zeta. This EF-4 tornado, with a path length of more than 24 miles (39 km) and a maximum path width of 1,300 yards (1,189 meters), damaged and destroyed many residences, including mobile and single-family homes. With a daily maximum temperature of 24 degrees F (-4.4 degrees C), Asheville, NC (18762020) recorded its coldest Christmas Day since 1983, while Huntsville, AL (19072020) observed its coldest Christmas Day since 1985, with a daily maximum temperature of 32 degrees F (0 degrees C). Open the app and start learning about the neighborhood you are standing in Sperling's Best Places. On average, June is the driest month with 0.2 inches (4 mm) of precipitation. Parts of northwestern Iowa remained in extreme drought as the year came to an end. All but three of these 25 stations were located in North Carolina and Virginia. From May 8 to 11, the polar jet stream plunged south and Arctic air spilled into the Northeast, with many areas seeing snow. In addition, snow fell across portions of West Virginia, western Maryland, western Pennsylvania, and western New York. Storm reports also indicated that hail accumulation of several inches was plowed off roads in western West Virginia. In contrast, places such as Boulder, CO, experienced its snowiest season on record with 152 inches of snow. At the beginning of 2020, only 12 percent of the High Plains region was experiencing moderate to exceptional drought (D1-D4), and these conditions were largely confined to western and southern areas of Colorado and Kansas. Although the season was below average, it was more than the 1993 to 2020 minimum of 23,000 acres set in 2004. Kentucky was the wettest state with 9.97 inches (253 mm) above normal which ranked as the 8th wettest in its history. Preliminary reports indicate Hurricane Laura generated a storm surge over 17 feet (5.18 meters) above ground level, which would be the largest surge on record for Louisiana. There were road closures, some evacuations, and reports of water in houses. annual snowfall: 47 inch: Share. With many of these large fires burning simultaneously, heavy smoke and poor air quality impacted many of the western states and Canada over many days during September. The US Lawns turned brown in parts of the Northeast. Despite a cold start to the year in Alaska, the statewide average annual temperature was 27.5F, 1.5F above the long-term average and was the coldest year since 2012. In addition, Augusta, GA (18712020) observed only its second trace of snowfall on Christmas Day since records began 149 years ago. WebHurricane, Utah gets 14 inches of rain, on average, per year. In September, many farmers in the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama reported a loss of cotton, peanuts, and pecans due to the passage of Hurricane Sally. WebRelatively low humidity prevails; average precipitation is about 11 inches (280 mm) a year, varying from less than 8 inches (200 mm) over the Great Salt Lake Desert to 50 inches The charts below show the population of each racial or ethnic group in Utah In Alabama, greenhouses and plastic bedding on vegetables were significantly damaged by Zetas high winds. Utah averages 43 inches of snow per year. The drought that was already in place combined with a failure of the monsoon and well above normal temperature were the primary climate enablers of fire in the Colorado River Basin this year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year. Precipitation was primarily wetter than normal (Texas was slightly drier than normal), with Mississippi and Tennessee experiencing their sixth-wettest and eighth-wettest winters on record, respectively. Tropical Storm Zeta and another storm system trekked through the Mid-Atlantic, bringing rain, snow, and gusty winds to the region from October 29 to 30. Allentown, Pennsylvania, had its warmest winter on record. Caribou, Maine, received only 0.88 inches (22.35 mm) of precipitation during June, tying as the driest June on record. In a break from recent years, average annual temperatures were generally above normal across the High Plains region, with widespread departures of up to 2.0 degrees F (1.1 degrees C). Conditions generally improved in the region during November. Prior to this, there had only been four February tornadoes in Maryland between 1950 and 2019. Nearly 40 percent of the cotton crop in Alabama contained seed coat fragments, which is a sprouting or deterioration of the seed that occurs under extended wet conditions, reducing the quality of the cotton fiber. 8th warmest year. One particularly notable event was severe flash flooding in the northern suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 6. Extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4) drought covered about 22 percent of the CONUS on December 29 the largest extent of D3 and D4 drought since August 2012 (24 percent). drier than normal monthly precipitation for For the year, there were areas in all six states that averaged between 1 to 2 degrees F (0.56 to 1.11 degrees C) above normal, while parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee averaged 2 to 3 degrees F (1.11 to 1.67 degrees C) above normal. These regional summaries were provided by the six Regional Climate Centers and reflect conditions in their respective regions. From the beginning of January through mid-March, a pocket of moderate-to-severe drought persisted along the eastern half of the Florida Panhandle. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year. This ranked as the fifth-warmest year in the 126-year record. Eight of the Northeast states were drier than normal while four were wetter than normal. Indiana was barely below normal (-0.04 inches or -1 mm), while Minnesota (-3.75 inches or -95 mm) and Iowa (-5.84 inches or -148 mm) were well below normal. Fay made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey, on July 10 and dropped between 3 and 7 inches (76 to 178 mm) of rain on parts of Maryland, Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, southeastern New York, and southwestern Connecticut. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year. The U.S. There were at least four ground fires in Vermont this year, which is atypical. Range and pastureland conditions were severely impacted this year, particularly in parts of Colorado and Wyoming, where livestock producers were forced to haul water or provide supplemental feed. Get the facts here, including data from the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration. Wet weather continued to delay field work across North Carolina, with reports of negative impacts on the wheat crop due to waterlogged soils. During summer and fall, groundwater levels were also well below normal in many drought areas. The record of 163 consecutive days was set last year. This topped the 12-week stretch in early 2019 with no abnormally dry conditions. WebSee past weather reports with the Almanac's weather history tool. The 8.59.5 feet (2.62.9 meters) of storm surge destroyed many sand dunes and sea turtle nests in Oak Island, NC. While February, March, and the spring season were record-setting for their lack of snow, May featured record-setting snowfall in a few locations. Warm extremes in both maximum and minimum temperature across much of the U.S. in addition to wet conditions across the Southeast and dry conditions in the West contributed to this elevated USCEI value. A total of 85 long-term stations across the region, with at least five located in every state, observed annual precipitation totals that were ranked within their five highest values on record. For example, in western West Virginia, portions of two 180-foot (55 m) communications towers were knocked over, a building at a car dealership collapsed, and the roofs of several homes were damaged or destroyed. In 2004 and Hurricanes Laura, Marco, Delta, and Pennsylvania snowiest... 25 stations were located in North Carolina and Virginia standing in Sperling 's Best Places contrast! The fifth-warmest year in the northern suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and water rescues acres... 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