January 31, 2020: January precipitation was about average plus or minus an inch or so in southern New York, Pennsylvania, and southern New Jersey. For the rest of New Jersey, amounts were 1 to 1.5 inches below. Temperatures were warm averaging 5 to 8 degrees above normal. Over the past 90 days, precipitation has been 1 to 3 inches below average.
Snow depth ranges from 1 to 5 inches in southern New York. In northern and higher elevations of Pennsylvania, an inch or two is on the ground. This remains below normal for late January. The water equivalent of this snow (or the water in the snowpack that will be released when the snow melts) is mostly 1/3 to 3/4 inch in southern New York with 1/3 inch or less elsewhere. This snow is currently expected to have little hydrologic effect when it melts. https://www.weather.gov/marfc/Snow
Current (January 31) data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows that streamflows are mostly near normal with some above normal levels scattered through the area. Groundwater levels are above normal.
The weather outlook into mid-February calls for near or above average precipitation. Temperatures are expected to be above or much above normal. The NWS Climate Prediction Center's 30 day outlook for February calls for near normal precipitation and below normal temperatures. The 90 day outlook for February through April calls for near or above average precipitation and near or above normal temperatures.
The outlook for water resources and supplies is good. Little change is expected over the next couple of weeks.
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