Published: March 1, 2020
Shown above are February 2020 snow totals in select Northeastern cities. Snowfall ranked among the lowest on record for February in the cities shown.
February is usually the snowiest month of the winter for many cities in the northeastern United States, including New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., but February 2020 ranked as one of the least snowy on record in parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
Philadelphia picked up only a trace of snow in February, tying for the city's least-snowy February on record. A typical February brings 8.8 inches of snow to Philly.
Some 140 miles down Interstate 95, Washington, D.C., did not do any better in terms of snowfall in February. It also picked up only a trace during the month, tying for the second-least-snowy February on record. February 1977 maintains its ranking as the least snowy in Washington, with not even a trace of snow reported that month. In an average February, the nation's capital receives 5.7 inches of snow.
February also tied for second-least snowy in New York City, where no more than a trace was recorded at Central Park. February 1998, when no snow fell, ranks as the least snowy in the Big Apple. An average February produces 9.2 inches of snow.
Baltimore did not even manage a trace of snow in February. This was the first time Baltimore had an entirely snowless February, despite both Philadelphia and Washington reporting a trace during the month. The city measures 8 inches of snow during an average February.
Unlike its neighbors to the south, Boston at least received measurable snowfall in February. However, its half-inch monthly total was tied for the seventh-least-snowy February on record. On average, Beantown picks up 10.9 inches of snow in February.
February 2020 was one for the record books across some areas of the East in terms of a lack of snow. Baltimore (BWI) MD and Islip NY recorded no snow in Feb for the 1st time. JFK and LGA airports in NYC and Atlantic City NJ needed the leap day to see their only Feb snow flurries.
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Other Northeastern cities that had one of the 10 least-snowy Februaries include Bridgeport and Hartford, Connecticut; Wilmington, Delaware; Salisbury, Maryland; Worcester, Massachusetts; Atlantic City and Newark, New Jersey; Islip, New York; Allentown, Harrisburg and Williamsport, Pennsylvania; Providence, Rhode Island; and Roanoke, Virginia.
(MORE: February 2020's Extremes)
The general track of significant winter storms this season has been northeastward across the central United States. This storm track draws milder air into the Northeast, resulting in more rain than snow.
This is evident on the map below, where the arrows represent the tracks of significant winter storms so far this season. In the East, the only notable snow has been confined to the interior Northeast, particularly northern Pennsylvania, upstate New York and northern New England.
Snowfall is far below average for many locations in the East due to this persistent storm track for much of the winter.
The arrows represent the tracks of significant winter storms so far this season. The shaded areas are estimates of total snowfall this season.
It can still snow well into March or even early April in the Northeast, but time is running out to make up these large snowfall deficits.
The peak time for major Northeast snowstorms has historically been from late January through February, but we all remember what happened in March 2018 when a parade of four nor'easters hammered the northeastern U.S., dumping heavy snow, knocking out power to millions and causing severe coastal flooding.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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