FOR RELEASE: May 14, 1997
Contact: Blaine P. Friedlander, Jr.
Office: (607) 255-3290
Internet: [email protected]
Compuserve: Larry Bernard 72650,565
http://www.news.cornell.edu
ITHACA, N.Y. -- April was not 24 hours old before three all-time snowfall
records were shattered in the Northeast, according to climatologists at the
Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University.
April's temperatures were cooler than normal and the month was also drier
than normal.
With 25.4 inches of snowfall recorded on March 31 and April 1, Boston broke
its all-time 24-hour snowfall record by almost 2 inches. The old record,
23.6 inches of snowfall, was set on Feb. 6-7, 1978.
Providence, R.I., obliterated its April 24-hour snowfall record by 9.2
inches on March 31-April 1, setting the new mark at 18 inches. The
previous April record, 8.8 inches, was set on April 9, 1917.
In Worcester, Mass., a new all-time snowstorm record was set at 33 inches
on March 31-April 1, surpassing the old 32.1-inch mark set on Dec. 11-13,
1992.
Cool spring weather continued through the month of April, according to
Keith Eggleston, a climatologist at the center. The Northeast's regional
average temperature was 2.4 degrees cooler than normal, to make April the
21st coolest April in 103 years of record. West Virginia recorded its
eighth coolest April on record, and at 3.8 degrees below normal, the state
had the region's largest departure from normal this month.
Temperatures were closer to normal from southern New England through New
Jersey. Rhode Island was the state closest to its normal temperature with a
minus-0.5 degree departure.
April was also a little dry. Despite the record snowstorm of March
31-April 1, precipitation was below normal throughout the Northeast.
Overall, the region reported 77 percent of the normal April precipitation
-- making it the 23rd driest April on record. Pennsylvania was the driest
state, averaging just 52 percent of normal for the month.
New Hampshire and New Jersey were the only states to report
wetter-than-normal, statewide monthly totals with 122 percent and 111
percent of normal, respectively.
New Weather Records
Monthly Snowfall Records (inches)
City New Previous
Providence, R.I. 18.0 9.6 in 1907
Boston 22.4 13.3 in 1982
Worcester, Mass. 24.0 21.0 in 1987All-Time Snowstorm Record (inches)
City Date New Previous
Worcester, Mass. 31st - 1st 33.0 32.1 on Dec. 11-13, 1992All-Time 24-Hour Snowfall Record (inches)
City Date New Previous
Boston 31st - 1st 25.4 23.6 on Feb. 6-7, 1978April 24-Hour Snowfall Record (inches)
City Date New Previous
Providence, R.I. 31st - 1st 18.0 8.8 in 1917High Temperature Records
City Date New Previous
Atlantic City, N.J. AP (tie) 4th 74∞ 74∞ in 1956
Atlantic City, N.J. (tie) (1.) 4th 75∞ 75∞ in 1929Low Temperature Records
City Date New Previous
Pittsburgh 9th 27∞ 28∞ in 1917
Binghamton, N.Y. 9th 15∞ 16∞ in 1977
Burlington, Vt. (tie) 9th 14∞ 14∞ in 1885
Montpelier, Vt. 9th 9∞ 13∞ in 1977
Rochester, N.Y. 9th 16∞ 17∞ in 1977
Central Park, N.Y. (tie) 10th 20∞ 20∞ in 1985
Pittsburgh 10th 18∞ 19∞ in 1985
Newark, N.J. 10th 28∞ 29∞ in 1950
National AP, Va. 10th 28∞ 29∞ in 1985
Bridgeport, Conn. 10th 27∞ 28∞ in 1977
Boston (tie) 10th 26∞ 26∞ in 1985
Providence, R.I. (tie) 10th 25∞ 25∞ in 1985
Atlantic City, N.J. AP 11th 26∞ 28∞ in 1957
Pittsburgh (tie) 20th 25∞ 25∞ in 1926
Morgantown, W.Va. 20th 27∞ 28∞ in 1951
Footnote: (1.) Atlantic City, N.J., marina
-30-
--------------------------------
Cornell University News Service
840 Hanshaw Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-255-4206 phone
607-257-6397 fax
[email protected]
http://www.news.cornell.edu
RSS