NCDC: U.S. February Climate

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

U.S. Climate Monitoring
National Overview
February 2004

National Climatic Data Center
Asheville, North Carolina
12 March 2004

Global Analysis / Global Hazards / United States / U.S. Drought / Extremes
Use these links to access detailed analyses of Global and U.S. data available on the 12th. visual page separator

Monthly/Seasonal Maps and Graphics

National Overview

Monthly/Seasonal Ranks and Values

Maps and Graphics:

February	Most Recent 3 Months	Most Recent 6 Months
Annual summary for 2003	Most Recent 12 Months	US Percent Area Very Wet/Dry/Warm/Cold

It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on this page: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2003/CMB_prod_us_2003.html

For graphics covering periods other than those mentioned above or for tables of national, regional, statewide and selected city data from 1895-present, for February, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page visual page separator

National Overview:

February:

Temperatures were near average for the nation as a whole with cooler than average conditions across much of the South and warmth across the northern states.

The precipitation signal was mixed across the country with drier than average conditions in the Northeast while wetter than average conditions prevailed across much of the West and Midwest.

Winter (December 2003-February 2004):

Temperatures across the nation were near average for winter with persistently warmer than normal conditions across western states and cooler than average temperatures east of the Mississippi.

Precipitation was variable across the country with dryness in the Southeast and far Northeast and generally average or above average precipitation elsewhere.

Snowfall was heavy in areas of the Plains, far West and the Southeast in February with less than average snowfall in the Northeast. Details of the 2003/2004 snow season can be found on NCDC's monthly snow summary page, available on March 12th.

Indices used to determine the state of ENSO suggest that the Equatorial Pacific was in a neutral ENSO phase and Sea Surface Temperatures were near normal across the equatorial Pacific during February. To see the latest NOAA advisory and typical impacts of a La Nina or El Nino episode for the U.S., go to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

For additional details, see the Monthly Highlights section. For details and graphics on weather events across the U.S. and the globe go to NCDC's Global Hazards page.

Monthly and Seasonal Highlights:

National:

February 2004 ranked as the 50th coldest February in the 1895 to present record, which is near average for the nation. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 34.3�F (1.3�C), which was 0.3�F (0.2�C) below the long-term mean.

February 2004 was wetter than average for precipitation nationally, ranking 22nd wettest.

For tables of national, regional, statewide and selected city data from 1895-present, for February, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page

December 2003-February 2004 temperature was near average and ranked as the 42nd warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature for December-February was 33.7�F (0.9�C) which was 0.7�F (0.4�C) above the long-term mean.

December 2003-February 2004 was near average for precipitation, ranking 62nd driest in the last 109 years.

March 2003-February 2004 ranked as the 13th warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 53.7�F (12.1�C) which was 0.9�F (0.5�C) above the long-term mean.

Precipitation was above average for March-February leading to a rank of 29th wettest for the last 12 months based on a record of 109 such periods.

Regional and Statewide:

February 2004 temperatures ranked below average for 10 southern states and warmer than average for 12 northern states.

Alaska temperatures will be available on March 12th

February was much drier than average for four northeastern states (ME, NH, VT, NY).

The 3 month period, December-February, was warmer than average for parts of the Midwest and High Plains. Only the Southeast region averaged significantly cooler than the long term mean.

December-February 2004 was dry for parts of the Southeast and wet for nine states across the country

The last 12 months were much warmer than average for 6 western states. Only two states averaged significantly cooler than the long-term mean.

The last 12 months were record wet for four Mid Atlantic states. Dry conditons prevailed across parts of the Midwest and New Mexico had its 7th driest such 12 months on record.

See NCDC's Monthly Extremes web-page for weather and climate records for the month of February.

An in-depth annual review of U.S. climate in 2003 is available at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2003/ann/us-summary.html

It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on this page: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2003/CMB_prod_us_2003.html

For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division:

Climate Services Division
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4876
phone: 828-271-4800
email: ncdc.info@noaa.gov

For further information on the historical climate perspective presented in this report, contact:

Jay Lawrimore
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: Jay.Lawrimore@noaa.gov