January 2025

[SACRUS]

 

Records:

Highs:

EWR: 74 (1950) *monthly Jan high
NYC: 72(1950)  * tied monthly Jan high Jan 6 (07)
LGA: 72 (1950)
JFK: 69 (1950)


Lows:

EWR: 4 (1994)
NYC: 2 (1871)
LGA: 5 (1994)
JFK: 9 (2007)

 

Historical:

 

1700 - A powerful earthquake struck the Pacific Northwest along the Cascadia Subduction zone. The estimated moment magnitude of 8.7-9.2 caused about a 1,000-kilometer rupture from mid-Vancouver Island to northern California. The ocean floor heaved upward approximately 20 feet, and with 10-20 minutes, a giant wave, 30-40 feet high, reached the shore. The earthquake caused a tsunami, which struck the coast of Japan.

1772 - Possibly the greatest snowfall ever recorded in the Washington DC area started on this day. When the storm began, Thomas Jefferson was returning home from his honeymoon with his new bride, Martha Wayles Skelton. The newlyweds made it to within eight miles of Monticello before having to abandon their carriage in the deep snow. Both finished the ride on horseback in the blinding snow. The newlyweds arrived home late on the night of January 26th. In Jefferson's "Garden Book," he wrote, "the deepest snow we have ever seen. In Albermarle, it was about 3. F. deep."

1937: The wettest month ever in Cincinnati, Ohio, is January 1937, when 13.68 inches fell. Their average January amount is 3.00 inches of precipitation. The overabundance of precipitation over the Ohio River basin caused near-record to record flooding in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. On this day, the river gauge reached 80 feet in Cincinnati, the highest level in the city's history. The Ohio River reached 57 feet in Louisville, Kentucky, on the 27th, setting a new record by ten feet. Seventy percent of the city was underwater at that time. 

1978 - A paralyzing blizzard struck the Midwest. One to three feet of snow fell in Michigan, and 20 to 40 inches was reported across Indiana. Winds reached 70 mph in Michigan, and gusted above 100 mph in Ohio. The high winds produced snow drifts twenty feet high in Michigan and Indiana stranding thousands on the interstate highways. Temperatures in Ohio dropped from the 40s to near zero during the storm. (David Ludlum)

1983 - The California coast was battered by a storm which produced record high tides, thirty-two foot waves, and mudslides, causing millions of dollars damage. The storm then moved east and dumped four feet of snow on Lake Tahoe. (22nd-29th) (The Weather Channel)

1987 - A winter storm spread heavy snow across the Middle and Northern Atlantic Coast States, with 18 inches reported at Vineland NJ, and wind gusts to 65 mph at Chatham MA. Snow cover in Virginia ranged up to thirty inches following this second major storm in just one week. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988 - A snowstorm in the northeastern U.S. produced 19 inches at Austerlitz NY and Stillwater NY. A storm in the Great Lakes Region left 16.5 inches at Marquette MI, for a total of 43 inches in six days. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989 - Snow and high winds created blizzard-like conditions in northwestern Vermont. Winds at Saint Albins gusted to 88 mph. In Alaska, the town of Cold Foot (located north of Fairbanks) reported a morning low of 75 degrees below zero. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990 - A winter storm spread high winds from the northwestern U.S. to Wyoming and Colorado, with heavy snow in some of the high elevations. Stevens Pass WA received 17 inches of snow, half of which fell in four hours. In extreme northwest Wyoming, Togwotee Mountain Lodge received 24 inches of snow. Winds in Colorado gusted to 90 mph at Rollinsville. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

[SACRUS]

 

NYC:

Jan 26 - 27, 2011  : 19 inches of snowfall

 

Jan 26 , 2015 : 9.8 inches of snowfall

[SACRUS]

 

More on 20111 snofall

 

https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/storm_summaries/event_reviews/2011/Mid-Atlantic_Northeast_WinterStorm_Jan2011.pdf

 

https://wjla.com/traffic/metro/2011-snowtowrm-hits-one-year-anniversary-71935

 

[SACRUS]

 

More on 2015 snowfall Jan 26

 

 

https://www.weather.gov/okx/blizzard_01262715#:~:text=Summary%3A A potent Alberta Clipper,to parts of the region.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/27/nyregion/new-york-blizzard.html

https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/winter_storm_summaries/event_reviews/2015/MidAtlantic_Northeast_Major_WinterStorm_Jan2015.pdf

[SACRUS]

On 1/25/2025 at 8:19 AM, SACRUS said:

Current cold period departures
 

Current cold period departures

1/20

EWR: 28 / 16 (-10)
NYC: 26 / 17 (-11)
LGA: 28 / 18 (-11)
JFK: 29 / 19 (-8)
 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

1/21:

EWR: 20 / 7 (-18)
NYC: 19 / 11 (-18)
LGA: 20 / 13 (-17)
JFK: 20 / 14 (-15)

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

1/22

EWR: 22/ 8 (-17)
NYC: 20 / 10 (-18)
LGA: 21 / 13 (-17)
JFK: 23 / 13 (-14)

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

1/23:

EWR: 29 / 13 (-11)
NYC: 28 / 17 (-10)
LGA: 30 / 18 (-10)
JFK: 30/ 16 (-9)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

1/24:

EWR: 34 / 15 (-7)
NYC: 33 / 23 (-5)
LGA: 34 / 25 (-4) 
JFK: 25 / 20 (-4)

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

-

1/25:

EWR: 33 / 14 (-8)
NYC: 33 /  20 (-6)
LGA: 33 / 23 (-6)
JFK: 33 / 18 (-6)

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[bluewave]

Models backing off a bit in the cold that was forecast for this week. This often happens when we are getting closer to a moderation of a colder pattern. So the La Niña seasonal progression is right on track.

New run

Old run

[SACRUS]

 

Daylight:

9H:55M50S

Gain of roughly 40 mins from the winter lull 9H:15M
Sunrise at 7:10AM - 10 mins earlier from the latest sunrise of 7:20 AM on (Jan 1-7)
Sunset 5:06PM - 38 mins later from the earliest sunset of 4:28PM on (Dec 6 - 12)

Roughly equivalent to Nov 14

Gaining 2 mins or greater a daylight starting to-day  

[LibertyBell]

1 hour ago, donsutherland1 said:

The week ahead:

Much colder in New England than the Mid-Atlantic region; much better prospects for some snowfall in New England.

We look to be in the *near normal* zone, Don.

It's quite apparent we're not in the Mid Atlantic, but we're not in New England either.

[LibertyBell]

38 minutes ago, bluewave said:

Models backing off a bit in the cold that was forecast for this week. This often happens when we are getting closer to a moderation of a colder pattern. So the La Niña seasonal progression is right on track.

New run

Old run

whats the normal La Nina progression, Chris-- cold in December and January and milder in February?

I want to see if the average temperature in February is higher than it was in December

[snowman19]

38 minutes ago, bluewave said:

Models backing off a bit in the cold that was forecast for this week. This often happens when we are getting closer to a moderation of a colder pattern. So the La Niña seasonal progression is right on track.

New run

Old run

This La Niña is not going to be denied. Region 3.4 is dropping like a rock, we are at the lowest of this entire event, moderate on the dallies, approaching -1.5C. The subsurface has also dropped the last week. There’s also a very strong EWB projected to continue right into early February 

[LibertyBell]

52 minutes ago, SACRUS said:

 

Records:

Highs:

EWR: 74 (1950) *monthly Jan high
NYC: 72(1950)  * tied monthly Jan high Jan 6 (07)
LGA: 72 (1950)
JFK: 69 (1950)


Lows:

EWR: 4 (1994)
NYC: 2 (1871)
LGA: 5 (1994)
JFK: 9 (2007)

 

Historical:

 

1700 - A powerful earthquake struck the Pacific Northwest along the Cascadia Subduction zone. The estimated moment magnitude of 8.7-9.2 caused about a 1,000-kilometer rupture from mid-Vancouver Island to northern California. The ocean floor heaved upward approximately 20 feet, and with 10-20 minutes, a giant wave, 30-40 feet high, reached the shore. The earthquake caused a tsunami, which struck the coast of Japan.

1772 - Possibly the greatest snowfall ever recorded in the Washington DC area started on this day. When the storm began, Thomas Jefferson was returning home from his honeymoon with his new bride, Martha Wayles Skelton. The newlyweds made it to within eight miles of Monticello before having to abandon their carriage in the deep snow. Both finished the ride on horseback in the blinding snow. The newlyweds arrived home late on the night of January 26th. In Jefferson's "Garden Book," he wrote, "the deepest snow we have ever seen. In Albermarle, it was about 3. F. deep."

1937: The wettest month ever in Cincinnati, Ohio, is January 1937, when 13.68 inches fell. Their average January amount is 3.00 inches of precipitation. The overabundance of precipitation over the Ohio River basin caused near-record to record flooding in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. On this day, the river gauge reached 80 feet in Cincinnati, the highest level in the city's history. The Ohio River reached 57 feet in Louisville, Kentucky, on the 27th, setting a new record by ten feet. Seventy percent of the city was underwater at that time. 

1978 - A paralyzing blizzard struck the Midwest. One to three feet of snow fell in Michigan, and 20 to 40 inches was reported across Indiana. Winds reached 70 mph in Michigan, and gusted above 100 mph in Ohio. The high winds produced snow drifts twenty feet high in Michigan and Indiana stranding thousands on the interstate highways. Temperatures in Ohio dropped from the 40s to near zero during the storm. (David Ludlum)

1983 - The California coast was battered by a storm which produced record high tides, thirty-two foot waves, and mudslides, causing millions of dollars damage. The storm then moved east and dumped four feet of snow on Lake Tahoe. (22nd-29th) (The Weather Channel)

1987 - A winter storm spread heavy snow across the Middle and Northern Atlantic Coast States, with 18 inches reported at Vineland NJ, and wind gusts to 65 mph at Chatham MA. Snow cover in Virginia ranged up to thirty inches following this second major storm in just one week. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988 - A snowstorm in the northeastern U.S. produced 19 inches at Austerlitz NY and Stillwater NY. A storm in the Great Lakes Region left 16.5 inches at Marquette MI, for a total of 43 inches in six days. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989 - Snow and high winds created blizzard-like conditions in northwestern Vermont. Winds at Saint Albins gusted to 88 mph. In Alaska, the town of Cold Foot (located north of Fairbanks) reported a morning low of 75 degrees below zero. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990 - A winter storm spread high winds from the northwestern U.S. to Wyoming and Colorado, with heavy snow in some of the high elevations. Stevens Pass WA received 17 inches of snow, half of which fell in four hours. In extreme northwest Wyoming, Togwotee Mountain Lodge received 24 inches of snow. Winds in Colorado gusted to 90 mph at Rollinsville. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1772 - Possibly the greatest snowfall ever recorded in the Washington DC area started on this day. When the storm began, Thomas Jefferson was returning home from his honeymoon with his new bride, Martha Wayles Skelton. The newlyweds made it to within eight miles of Monticello before having to abandon their carriage in the deep snow. Both finished the ride on horseback in the blinding snow. The newlyweds arrived home late on the night of January 26th. In Jefferson's "Garden Book," he wrote, "the deepest snow we have ever seen. In Albermarle, it was about 3. F. deep."

wow how much snow fell in DC in this one, Don, more than the Knickerbocker storm of 1922? 3F= 3 feet?

 

1987 - A winter storm spread heavy snow across the Middle and Northern Atlantic Coast States, with 18 inches reported at Vineland NJ, and wind gusts to 65 mph at Chatham MA. Snow cover in Virginia ranged up to thirty inches following this second major storm in just one week. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

 

Big southern NJ snowstorm, it happened again in February 1989

[LibertyBell]

2 minutes ago, snowman19 said:

This La Niña is not going to be denied. Region 3.4 is dropping like a rock, we are at the lowest of this entire event, moderate on the dallies, approaching -1.5C. The subsurface has also dropped the last week. There’s also a very strong EWB projected to continue right into early February 

the la nina was also the reason for the cold December-January

this is just normal la nina weather we have seen several times before.

 

[donsutherland1]

12 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

We look to be in the *near normal* zone, Don.

It's quite apparent we're not in the Mid Atlantic, but we're not in New England either.

Technically, we're in the northern Mid-Atlantic. We may wind up somewhat above normal, especially if the NBE is correct.

[bluewave]

19 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

whats the normal La Nina progression, Chris-- cold in December and January and milder in February?

I want to see if the average temperature in February is higher than it was in December

Yes. We are on track for February having the warmest departure of the winter. It’s also possible the NYC departure this January currently at -4.1° will be the lowest monthly departure for all 12 calendar months of 2025. This has been the case since 2016 as these colder months below -3 have been few and far between. But NYC is a bit of an outlier this month as the other stations aren’t  as cold. Could be related to the vegetation so close in near the sensors blocking the sunlight. 

[LibertyBell]

29 minutes ago, donsutherland1 said:

Technically, we're in the northern Mid-Atlantic. We may wind up somewhat above normal, especially if the NBE is correct.

But our weather does not really match any of the other cities, even Philadelphia, who often get hit by snow that misses us to the south.  The distance between Philadelphia and NYC is about the same as the distance between NYC and Boston, I think?  I think we'll be above normal too, on the strength of perhaps hitting 50 or even being in the lower 50s on Wednesday.

 

 

[Stormlover74]

8 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

But our weather does not really match any of the other cities, even Philadelphia, who often get hit by snow that misses us to the south.  The distance between Philadelphia and NYC is about the same as the distance between NYC and Boston, I think?  I think we'll be above normal too, on the strength of perhaps hitting 50 or even being in the lower 50s on Wednesday.

 

 

Boston is more than double the distance than Philly is

[ILoveWinter]

9 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

But our weather does not really match any of the other cities, even Philadelphia, who often get hit by snow that misses us to the south.  The distance between Philadelphia and NYC is about the same as the distance between NYC and Boston, I think?  I think we'll be above normal too, on the strength of perhaps hitting 50 or even being in the lower 50s on Wednesday.

 

 

Boston is a hundred miles further. DC is about the same distance as Boston.

I think Boston averages more snow vs NYC than NYC does vs DC. Bostons northerly and easterly position is a big factor. We align to Philly’s climate more than any other major east coast city. 

[SACRUS]

 

Good news for soca l

 

[LoboLeader1]

As of today, there are 57 days until meteorological spring begins on March 1st. 

 

[LibertyBell]

8 minutes ago, ILoveWinter said:

Boston is a hundred miles further. DC is about the same distance as Boston.

I think Boston averages more snow vs NYC than NYC does vs DC. Bostons northerly and easterly position is a big factor. We align to Philly’s climate more than any other major east coast city. 

Weird, I went to Boston on Amtrak and it never seemed that far away.  I guess because I look at Boston as two states away (CT and then MA) while DC is four states away (NJ, PA, DE, MD).

There was only one stop in between on Amtrak going to Boston from Penn Station-- New London, CT.

[LibertyBell]

4 minutes ago, SACRUS said:

 

Good news for soca l

 

Yes, lets hope they get a lot more rain going forward

[EastonSN+]

53 minutes ago, bluewave said:

Yes. We are on track for February having the warmest departure of the winter. It’s also possible the NYC departure this January currently at -4.1° will be the lowest monthly departure for all 12 calendar months of 2025. This has been the case since 2016 as these colder months below -3 have been few and far between. But NYC is a bit of an outlier this month as the other stations aren’t  as cold. Could be related to the vegetation so close in near the sensors blocking the sunlight. 

I may be mistaken however isn't this La Nina a little delayed affects wise? I thought the first or second week of January is when the La Nina pattern typically kicks in with this year being a couple weeks later than normal. 

[EastonSN+]

1 hour ago, snowman19 said:

This La Niña is not going to be denied. Region 3.4 is dropping like a rock, we are at the lowest of this entire event, moderate on the dallies, approaching -1.5C. The subsurface has also dropped the last week. There’s also a very strong EWB projected to continue right into early February 

I think this is a win scenario if you like colder than average temperatures as this La Nina kicked in a little later than usual. 

Also March can be snowy in La niñas (as Don mentioned going to the latter half of February RNAs are not as hostile).

Therefore, if one likes winter weather, we may only have negative effects 2 to 3 weeks which is a massive win in a la nina.

 

[SACRUS]

 

NYC <->  Boston : 215 miles
NYC <-> Phil : 95 miles
NYC <-> W-DC : 205 miles

[LibertyBell]

4 minutes ago, EastonSN+ said:

I may be mistaken however isn't this La Nina a little delayed affects wise? I thought the first or second week of January is when the La Nina pattern typically kicks in with this year being a couple weeks later than normal. 

la nina pattern is cold in December and January and warmer after January.  examples of this are 1995-96, 2008-9, 2010-11.

la ninas after el ninos are exceptionally cold in December and January-- 1983-84 is another great example

 

[EastonSN+]

9 minutes ago, LibertyBell said:

la nina pattern is cold in December and January and warmer after January.  examples of this are 1995-96, 2008-9, 2010-11.

la ninas after el ninos are exceptionally cold in December and January-- 1983-84 is a great example

 

Right, however I believe the warmer weather kicks in in mid-January typically. This year is more like 10 11 or 09 08 where the La Nina affects were later than usual. 

I believe 17/18 is more standard where after the first week of January where we had the big storm it warmed up for the second half of January all the way through February before we had an epic March. 

The later the effects of the La Nina like this year the less of a hostile winter weather period. 

The reason La Nina's typically are snowier in March is because rnas are less hostile as Don pointed out. 

We could literally be looking at only a 2 to 3 week La Nina warmer than average temperature scenario before the shorter wavelengths combat the La Nina RNA pattern.

Going into the season if someone were to say we're going to have a moderate La Nina and only 2 to 3 weeks of hostile La Nina effects everyone would sign up. 

[bluewave]

13 minutes ago, EastonSN+ said:

I may be mistaken however isn't this La Nina a little delayed affects wise? I thought the first or second week of January is when the La Nina pattern typically kicks in with this year being a couple weeks later than normal. 

The La Niña progression has been right on track all winter. I was discussing back in October how this could be one of those mismatch La Ninas from December into January with a +PNA and the MJO warm phases influence muted. But unfortunately the Pacific Jet was never able to relax like the prior mismatch years. So our snowfall had been much lower than past years with these types of La Niña patterns. I mentioned how there were other factors due to the competing marine heatwaves in the Pacific. But we are still seeing the Southeast Ridge become a player again as we head into February which is typical for La Ninas. There have been several La Nina’s with a colder December and or January which had a warmer than average February departure.

 

 

[snowman19]

8 minutes ago, EastonSN+ said:

I think this is a win scenario if you like colder than average temperatures as this La Nina kicked in a little later than usual. 

Also March can be snowy in La niñas (as Don mentioned going to the latter half of February RNAs are not as hostile).

Therefore, if one likes winter weather, we may only have negative effects 2 to 3 weeks which is a massive win in a la nina.

 

IMO, this late peak argues for a latter effect of La Niña on the pattern. I don’t see how a late peak argues for the pattern to end earlier. That doesn’t make sense to me. @bluewave pointed out that aside from March 2018, our March snow patterns have failed in recent years

[Dark Star]

33 minutes ago, Stormlover74 said:

Boston is more than double the distance than Philly is

Takes 5 hours to get to Boston, maybe about 90 minutes to get to Philly?

[EastonSN+]

Just now, bluewave said:

The La Niña progression has been right on track all winter. I was discussing back in October how this could be one of those mismatch La Ninas from December into January with a +PNA and the MJO warm phases influence muted. But unfortunately the Pacific Jet was never able to relax like the prior mismatch years. So our snowfall had been much lower than past years with these types of La Niña patterns. I mentioned how there were other factors due to the competing marine heatwaves in the Pacific. But we are still seeing the Southeast Ridge become a player again as we head into February which is typical for La Ninas.

 

 

Right, however speaking specifically of timing, I thought La niñas typically kick in the beginning to mid January not the beginning of February. The RNA becomes less of a factor mid February which would only lead to 2 to 3 weeks of hostile winter weather background state. 

Our area typically does not do well in La niñas because we lose half of January and half of February, an entire heart of winter month. El Nino's are better, as December's are typically not as snowy for our area, therefore we have a better set up in the heart of the winter months of January and February.