In the Northeast, this month overall could be drier than normal in some northern areas but wetter than normal in some southern areas, the Northeast Regional Climate Center says. Below-normal temperatures are possible in many areas.
September featured highly variable conditions, with drought and dryness easing in many areas.
— Burlington in Vermont had its fourth wettest September on record. Bridgeport, Connecticut, had its 18th wettest and Providence, Rhode Island, had its 19th wettest.
— Caribou in Maine had its 11th driest and 17th warmest September on record.
—In New England, wetter-than-normal weather reduced drought and abnormally dry conditions. As of Sept. 27, less than 1 percent of the Northeast (New England states plus New York) was in an extreme drought (vs. 1 percent the previous week), 6 percent was in severe drought (vs. 12 percent), 12 percent was in moderate drought (vs. 15 percent) and 17 was abnormally dry (vs. 32 percent).
Precipitation in September 2022 was slightly above normal in the East and below normal in the Pacific Northwest and most of the central U.S. Hurricane Ian’s clearly visible track across Florida led to well above normal precipitation levels. They exceeded previous maximum rainfall for September by 6 to 12 inches. Source: Weather Prediction Center at the National Weather Service
Precipitation in September 2022 compared with the norm over 53 years (1969 to 2021). Source: Weather Prediction Center at the National Weather Service
September 2022 precipitation compared with the previous maximum over 53 years (1969 to 2021). Source: Weather Prediction Center at the National Weather Service
Precipitation in September in the Northeast ranged from 25 percent of normal in areas such as central New Jersey (where I lived for 40 years) to more than twice the norm in spots such as northern Rhode Island and southern Connecticut. Source: Northeast Regional Climate Center
Last month was among the 20 driest Septembers on record at two major climate sites in the Northeast. It was among the 20 wettest at nine sites. Source: Northeast Regional Climate Center
September 2022 temperatures in the Northeast ranged from 3 degrees Fahrenheit below normal to 3 degrees above normal. Temperatures were cooler than normal at 17 of the Northeast’s 35 major climate sites. Temperatures ranked among the 20 warmest on record at six sites. Source: Northeast Regional Climate Center
This map, showing maximum wind speed (in knots) from Sept. 25 through Oct. 1, 2022, highlights the active and very impactful tropical activity across the Northern Hemisphere from: (1) Typhoon Noru; (2) Typhoon Kulap; (3) Hurricane Ian; and (4) Hurricane Fiona. Source: National Weather Service Ocean Prediction Center
Source: Weather Prediction Center at the National Weather Service
“A strong coastal storm is still meandering around off to our south” on Oct. 4, 2022. Source: National Weather Service Gray/Portland ME office.
Source: National Centers for Environmental Information
Foliage at Hanson Lake in Presque Isle, Maine, through the years at the same spot on Oct. 2 (plus or minus a day). Foliage is “running fairly close to average this year, just a touch shy of peak color.” Source: National Weather Service Caribou ME office
A rare October snowstorm struck portions of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Oct. 29–30, 2011. The storm dumped more than a foot of snow on areas from northeastern Pennsylvania to southern Maine, with some areas of Massachusetts and New Hampshire receiving more than 30 inches. Source: Northeast Regional Climate Center and Weather Prediction Center at the National Weather Service
Since 1851, 28 hurricanes and other tropical cyclones have tracked within 50 miles of New England during the month of October. Source: NOAA
Hurricane Sandy at 2:20 p.m. (EDT) on Oct. 29, 2012. Sandy’s storm surge, as well as large and battering waves, devastated large portions of the New Jersey and New York coasts. Sandy’s high winds and storm surge also had significant impacts in New England, with coastal sections from Connecticut through Massachusetts experiencing the worst of the conditions there. Major coastal flooding in Rhode Island rivaled the impact from Hurricane Bob in 1991. Sandy resulted in 72 direct deaths across eight states and at least 75 indirect deaths, damages exceeding $50 billion, an 8-foot-plus storm surge and up to 3 feet of snow in some places. Nearly 1,000 miles in diameter, Sandy was among the largest storms ever to strike the U.S. Source: NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC; National Hurricane Center; NOAA news release
The Perfect Storm, also known as The No-Name Storm, Unnamed Hurricane or Halloween Storm, formed in the North Atlantic. A strong area of high pressure to its north pushed it southward, and it became a powerful nor’easter that absorbed energy and tropical moisture from Hurricane Grace. The offshore nor’easter lashed the Massachusetts coast and coastal waters with large, breaking waves and major coastal flooding over several high tide cycles. Damages exceeded $200 million along parts of the East Coast and 13 people died as a result of the storm. A buoy off the coast of Nova Scotia reported a 100.7-foot wave — the highest ever recorded in the province’s offshore waters. Source: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service and National Weather Service Boston/Norton office
The Perfect Storm on Oct. 30, 1991. Source: NOAA Ocean Prediction Center
An estimated 60-foot rogue wave off Charleston, South Carolina, during the 1991 Perfect Storm. The wave was moving away from ship after crashing into it. Source: Source: NOAA Ocean Prediction Center
The October 2022 climate outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center favors a warmer-than-average month for much of the country and a wetter/cooler-than-average month for the mid-Atlantic. Source: NOAA Climate.gov and NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Temperature outlook for October 2022. Darker colors mean greater chances, not larger temperature extremes. White means a warm, cool or near average October are equally likely. Source: NOAA Climate.gov image based on Climate Prediction Center data
Precipitation outlook for October 2022. Darker colors mean greater chances, not how far above or below average precipitation will likely be. White means a wet, dry, or near-average October are equally likely. Source: NOAA Climate.gov image based on data from the Climate Prediction Center.
Source: Northeast Regional Climate Center
Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Drought outlook for October 2022. Brown shows areas where experts forecast drought will persist or worsen. Green areas mean drought is likely to end. Drought improved across the Northeast in September, but the lingering areas of drought are expected to remain through October. Source: NOAA Climate.gov and NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Drought remains but improves in the tan area and drought removal is likely in the green area by Dec. 31, 2022. Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Autumn colors near Newfound Lake in Alexandria, New Hampshire, on Oct. 4, 2022. Photo by Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy blogger
Autumn colors near Newfound Lake in Alexandria, New Hampshire, on Oct. 4, 2022. Photo by Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy blogger
Autumn colors near Newfound Lake in Alexandria, New Hampshire, on Oct. 3, 2022. Photo by Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy blogger
Autumn colors near Newfound Lake in Alexandria, New Hampshire, on Oct. 3, 2022. Photo by Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy blogger
NH EnviroGuy blogger & photography enthusiast living near Newfound Lake in New Hampshire. Finalist, 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. Snowy ROC NY native.
