Coldest Month on Record Comes to a Close

It was a month for the record books. Not only was last month the coldest February on record, it was also the coldest month ever on record at Sikorsky Memorial Airport. The average daily temperature in February was 19.9 degrees, which broke the previous record for the month of 24.1 degrees set in 1978. In addition, it was also the coldest month on record, breaking the previous mark of 21.9 degrees, established in January of 2004.

So, just how cold was it? Every day last month was colder-than-normal. The temperature dropped into the single digits 14 of the 28 days (50%), with a record low temperature of -2 degrees February 16. Eighteen days featured an average daily temperature at least 10 degrees below normal, and three days were at least 20 degrees colder-than-normal. Fifteen of the last 16 days of February brought average daily temperatures at least 10 degrees below normal.

Nearly two feet of snow (21.5") fell last month, easily topping the average snowfall for the month (8.1). Sixteen days featured at least a trace of snow, with the jackpot of 10.3" on Groundhog Day, February 2. Nearly four inches of snow fell February 21, and there were four straight days with at least a trace of snow from February 7th through the 10th.

However, as far as liquid precipitation is concerned, just over two inches (2.23") fell in February, which is more than a half-inch below normal (2.79"). The greatest 24-hour precipitation total was just about an inch (0.99") from February 1 through February 2. The greatest snow depth was 14" on February 4 & 22. What a month, to be sure!

Paul