Winter 2008-2009 in New York City and the Northeast

So far the winter season has been dominated by a cyclonic flow over eastern Canada which has resulted in colder than normal temperatures for the Northeast and here in New York City. Central Park for January 2009 averaged 4.2 degrees below normal. Snowfall through February 1st in Central Park is 15.0 which is about 4 inches above normal for the season. Nine of the 15.0 inches fell in January. The flow for much of December and January originated from the north to northwest as a result of a blocking pattern over the northern Atlantic. This kept an upper-level cyclonic area of low pressure across Greenland and eastern Canada that funneled down cold, dry air from the north. This pattern also resulted in a reduced southern branch of the jet stream that kept moisture from moving north into the Northeast. As a result, we the has been an absence of classic coastal storms commonly referred to as Nor'easters.

George Wright, Certified Consulting Meteorologist and President of Wright Weather Consulting, Inc. View our web site at WrightWeather.com..