***A New Water Resources Outlook Format Begins March 2***
February 18, 2020: February precipitation has ranged from about average to over one inch above in southern New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Temperatures have been warm averaging 4 to 8 degrees above normal. Over the past 90 days, precipitation has been about normal plus or minus an inch or two.
Snow depth ranges from 4 to 10 inches in much of southern New York with 1 to 4 inches in the northern tier of Pennsylvania. Little or none is on the ground elsewhere. The water equivalent of this snow (or the water in the snowpack that will be released when the snow melts) is mostly 3/4 to 1.5 inches with 2 to 3 inches in areas of deepest snow cover in New York. This snow is sufficient to add up to several additional feet of river rises should it melt quickly during a rain event. https://www.weather.gov/marfc/Snow
Current (February 18) data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows that streamflows are near or above normal. Groundwater levels are mostly above normal.
The weather outlook into early March calls for above average precipitation. Temperatures are expected to be above or even much above normal. The NWS Climate Prediction Center's 30 day outlook for February calls for near normal precipitation and above 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.
End.
