BUFFALO, N.Y. — It comes as no surprise to find out that this past winter was the 6th warmest on record for the continental United States.
From December through February, it wasn't just Western New York that witnessed a lack of wintry conditions. That was the case across much of the lower 48, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed this Friday by stating, "for some regions of the country, it was as if it never happened at all."
Western New York know this too well. This was the 9th warmest meteorological winter on record for Buffalo. Our average temperature from December 2019 to February 2020 was 31.9°, nearly 5 degrees warmer than our typical wintertime temperature of 27.1°.
In particular, NOAA highlighted how February was significantly warmer and wetter. It even ranks as the third warmest and third wettest February on record for the continental United States over a 126 year period.
For the northeast, no state experienced an extended period of below average temperatures in February. But for Buffalo, the late month cold and snow dropped the average temperature for February of 2020, making it 29.4°. Still above average, but not ranking as one of the warmest February's on record for WNY.
And in terms of precipitation, WNY received an average amount precipitation and snowfall last month. The official snow total for February of 2020 in Buffalo was 20.6" where the average for the month is usually 17.3".
The same cannot be said for December and January of this past winter. Both months lacked in the snow game for WNY. December of 2019 was 11 inches below average and January of 2020 was 12 inches below average. This totals up to be in 30th winter with the least amount of snow on record for Buffalo.
So in the end, it truly was a warmer than average winter with a substantial lack of snow. And with a mild winter coming to a fast close, it makes sense that more spring-like conditions will move in by the time the season begins.
To read the full report complied Friday by NOAA and NCEI, click here.
Note: above records and calculations are based on records kept at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
