6th warmest winter on record for most of U.S.

The numbers are in for meteorological winter 2019-20.

NOAA reports Friday it was the 6th mildest winter on record for the lower 48 states.

Eastern U.S.: The year without winter?

For residents of the eastern U.S., this was like a year with winter in many areas. Mild temperatures and scant snowfall made this the easiest winter in years for much of the eastern U.S.

It was the 2nd warmest winter on record in Boston.

It was the 7th warmest winter on record for New York City.

Here are some winter highlights from Friday’s NOAA report.

Much-above-average temperatures were felt across parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, as well as portions of California. No state tallied below-average temperatures for the month.

The average February temperature across the contiguous U.S. was 36.2 degrees F (2.4 degrees above the 20th-century average), which ranked in the warmest third of the 126-year record.

Very wet conditions and flooding were seen across much of the Southeast during February. Georgia ranked second wettest, while Alabama and North Carolina ranked third wettest.

Alaska: Coldest winter in 21 years

Upper air patterns tend to produce opposite effects in the lower 48 states and Alaska. This winter was no exception.

Minnesota: Mild but ample snowfall

Temperatures in the Twin Cities ran about 3 degrees warmer than average during the December to February period. But snowfall was near average in the Twin Cities and Rochester.

But mild weather in early March really ate away at snow cover. Take a look and compare it to when we had deep snow on the ground 1 year ago.

It’s interesting to note that even though winter was mild, it was still cold enough to keep snow on the ground for the duration of meteorological winter. Here’s some perspective on the duration of snow cover this winter from the Minnesota DNR Climate Working Group.

On March 5, the snow depth at the Twin Cities International Airport measured a trace and thus ended the streak of continuous snow cover this winter at 98 days. The first date of continuous snow cover for this season was November 27, 2019. The last time there was a longer stretch was during the memorable winter of 2013-14 with 113 days. The record is 136 days in the winter of 1964-65. There was continuous snow cover until April 10 of that year.

Right now I still don’t see any big March snow chances on the maps. Yet.

Stay tuned.