February was exceeding warm...averaging over 12 degrees above normal. It was also a bit wet, but still relatively free of snow. The biggest one-day snowfall that month, and for the entire 1997-98 winter season, came on the 1st when 4.6 inches fell.

March was another wet month but close to normal for temperatures. The snowfall total for the month was also close to normal, but the "big" snow was still avoided. The most that fell in a single day that month was around 3 inches.

More warm temperatures for April, but a bit drier. The last snowfall of that winter season also occurred in April...with a trace of the white stuff falling on the 1st.

May saw the first 90 degree temperatures of the year, with mercuries reaching that barrier on 3 occasions. Precipitation was right where it should be too, although 40% of the total fell on one day...the 7^th.

June got the summer month's off to a cool start and was the only month all year to average below normal temperatures. Mercuries never reached 90 and it took until the last third of the month to even reach 80 degrees. Rain was in abundance though, almost 2 inches above the normal. The highest one-day total occurred this month with 1.71 inches falling on the 27th. June was also probably the most active month for severe weather, especially at month's end.

July rebounded with warmer temperatures and a bit below normal precipitation. No real hot weather though, with high's staying out of the 90s.

August rounded out the summer month's with slightly above normal temperatures, but still no extended hot conditions. Not only did it fail to reach 90 degrees, but temperatures only topped out in the 80s 11 times. Another wet month, though, especially initially. Measurable precipitation fell on 6 out of the first 7 days.

Fall started out warm but very dry. September was nearly 2 ½ inches below normal for rainfall, with measurable precipitation falling on only 5 days that month. In fact, the first measurable rain didn't occur until the 19th.

The precipitation roller coaster was on an incline for October with rainfall that month nearly 2 ½ inches above normal! October is usually one of the driest month out of the year but was the 2nd wettest this past year.

November started off on the coolside for a change, but quickly warmed up by mid-month and then finished with record temperatures. The first measurable snow of the new winter season also fell this month with 0.4 inches on the 8th.

And just as the year started, it ended on a very warm note. Winter did finally "show up" for the later part of December with temperatures more typical of the season. Snowfall was still in short supply though.

All in all...although it was one of the warmest years ever for Rochester...it certainly wouldn't have been considered hot. Temperatures reached or exceeded 90 degrees 3 times (the average is 8), while the average summertime temperatures were a bit below normal. The unusually mild winter and fall months were the big factors, making this past year seem almost like one long spring.