WEATHER

January Temperatures averaged near normal. Extremes were 65°F at Estell Manor on the 19th and -9°F at Newton on the 9th. Precipitation totals averaged well above normal with the greatest monthly total of 10.69 inches at Canistear Reservoir and the least 2.68 inches at Atlantic City Marina. The greatest monthly snowfall was 40.5 inches at Canistear Reservoir.

February Temperatures averaged near normal with extremes of 69°F degrees at Estell Manor and Belleplain St Forest on the 26th and 25th and minus 17 at Newton on the 5th. Precipitation was below normal. The greatest 24-hour total was 1.50 inches on the 17th at Long Branch. The greatest monthly snowfall was 23.6 inches at Seabrook Farms.

March Temperatures averaged much below normal. Extremes were 72°F at Flemington and Plainfield on the 25th and minus 6°F at Sussex on the 10th. Precipitation was generally slightly above normal. The greatest monthly total was 5.35 inches at Toms River. The greatest monthly snowfall total was 21.0 inches at Sussex.

April Temperatures averaged slightly above normal and precipitation averaged above normal. The highest temperature was 88°F at Newark on the 23rd and the lowest was 22°F at Belleplain State Forest on the 10th. Precipitation totals ranged from 3.11 inches at Mays Landing to 7.23 inches at Sussex. The greatest 24-hour total was 2.84 inches at Woodcliff Lake on the 16th.

May Temperatures averaged one to two degrees below normal with extremes of 99°F at Newark on the 20th and Toms River on the 21st and 28°F at several stations on the 14th. Precipitation totals were below normal at most locations. Totals ranged between 1.99 and 5.93 inches.

June Temperatures averaged slightly above normal and precipitation totaled above normal at most locations. Temperature extremes were 93°F at Moorestown on the 17th and 36°F at Sussex on the 1st. Precipitation totals ranged from 2.81 inches at Atlantic City Marina to 10.41 inches at Lambertville. The greatest 24-hour total was 3.16 inches at Little Falls on the 4th.

July Temperatures averaged below normal with temperatures reaching or exceeding 90°F only 9 days at Moorestown. Precipitation amounts were above normal ranging from 3.49 inches at Atlantic City Marina to 10.61 inches at Midland Park. The greatest 24-hour total was 5.12 inches at Estell Manor on the 13th.

August Temperatures averaged near normal and precipitation totaled below normal north and near normal south. Temperature extremes ranged from 93°F at Canoe Brook and Hightstown on the 24th to 44°F at Boonton on the 30th. Precipitation totals ranged from 1.07 inches at Boonton to 6.55 inches at New Brunswick. The greatest 24-hour total was 4.52 inches at New Brunswick on the 1st.

September Temperatures averaged near normal with the highest 93°F at Moorestown on the 8th and 36°F at Long Valley on the 25th. Precipitation averaged above normal. Totals ranged from 3.44 inches at Belvidere Bridge to 12.63 inches at Sussex. The greatest 24-hour total was 3.50 inches at Estell Manor on the 17th.

October Temperatures averaged near normal and precipitation totaled well above normal. Temperatures extremes were 88°F at Belleplain on the 17th and 26°F at Boonton and Sussex on the 26th. Precipitation totals ranged from 4.50 inches at Millville to 9.91 inches at Pottersville. The greatest 24-hour total was 6.16 inches at Long Valley on the 20th.

November Temperatures averaged much below normal and precipitation totaled below normal. The maximum temperature was 78°F at Moorestown on the 7th and minimum was 12°F at several stations on the 29th. The greatest monthly precipitation was 4.82 inches at Sussex and the least was 0.94 inches at Mays Landing. The greatest monthly snowfall was 0.4 inches at Flemington.

December Temperatures and precipitation both averaged much above normal. Temperatures ranged from 64°F at several locations on the 25th to 5°F at Sussex on the 31st. The greatest monthly precipitation was 10.24 inches at Wertsville and the least was 5.25 inches at Canoe Brook. The greatest 24-hour total was 3.16 inches at Wanaque Raymond Dam on the 2nd. The greatest monthly snowfall was 14.2 inches at Sussex.

Weather during the 1996 growing season was marked by wetter than normal conditions. July was particularly wet with many overcast days, producing greater than normal disease problems. No widespread freeze problems occurred during the spring. Temperatures reached and exceeded 90°F few days during July and August making the effects of wetter than normal conditions during July even worst. Precipitation during the period March through October was above long term normals. Totals during the critical period May through September were also above normal.