We are less than a week away from the end of the "meteorological Winter" (1 Dec - 29 Feb) so thought we'd share some of the high level trends. We'll have a complete recap on Monday next week.
For the U.S. overall (based on 260 major cities across the U.S.):
TEMPERATURES
- #1 Warmest in 121 years - A RECORD WARM WINTER for the U.S. as a whole. This is a wholesale change from the past two winters that were colder than average.
- National temps were +4.3F warmer than last year and +3.5F above a 25 year average.
- The coldest Winter in recent history was 2009-2010 and 2000-2001.
- Count of 32F sub-freezing days down 13% which is least in 25 years.
- Heating Degree Days (HDD) are the least on record and down 11% vs average.
- Consumers saved a ton on their heating bills this year.
- 2013-2014 had the most HDDs with consumer heating bills soaring.
PRECIPITATION
- 3rd wettest in 25+ years for the U.S. as a whole
- Wettest in 6 years and very nearly wettest in 18 years.
- 22% above average and 32% more than last year.
- The wettest season was back in the last record strong El Nino of 1997-1998.
- The driest winter season was in 2001-2002.
SNOWFALL
- 3rd LEAST in 25+ years for the U.S. overall.
- 27% below average and 22% less than last year.
- Least in 4 years.
- 1995-1996 was snowiest.
- 2011-2012 was least snowy.
- Capt Kirk out