NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
National Overview
November Highlights
November Temperature
The contiguous U.S. average temperature during November was 45.3°F, 3.6°F above average, ranking sixth warmest in the 130-year record.
Generally, temperatures were much-above average to record warm across much of the eastern half of the contiguous U.S. and near- to below average across large portions of the West. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Maine each ranked warmest on record with an additional 25 states ranking among their top-10 warmest November on record.
The contiguous U.S. average maximum (daytime) temperature during November was 55.7°F, 3.0°F above the 20th century average, ranking in the warmest third for daytime temperatures in the historical record. Maximum temperatures were above average across much of the eastern half of the contiguous U.S., while near- to below-average temperatures were observed in most of the West. Connecticut ranked warmest November for daytime temperatures.
The contiguous U.S. average minimum (nighttime) temperature during November was 34.9°F, 4.2°F above the 20th century average, ranking sixth warmest for overnight temperatures on record. Minimum temperatures were above average across much of the eastern half of the contiguous U.S. and parts of the Northwest while temperatures were near- to below average in portions of the West. Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi each ranked warmest November on record for nighttime temperatures.
The Alaska statewide November temperature was 13.6°F, 1.9°F above the long-term average, ranking in the middle third of the 100-year period of record for the state. Near-average temperatures dominated most of Alaska with above-normal temperatures observed across much of the North Slope and Aleutians.
Based on NOAA's Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index (REDTI), the contiguous U.S. temperature-related energy demand during November was 26 percent of average and the sixth-lowest value in the 130-year period of record.
November Precipitation
The November precipitation total for the contiguous U.S. was 2.98 inches, 0.75 inch above average, ranking 17th wettest in the historical record.
Precipitation was above average along parts of the central and northern West Coast and from the southern Rockies and Deep South to the Great Lakes. Below-average precipitation was observed across portions of the Southwest, northern Rockies, south Texas and along much of the East Coast.
Oklahoma ranked wettest with Kansas ranking second wettest on record for the month, helping to improve and eliminate drought conditions across large portions of the central U.S.
Across the state of Alaska, the average monthly precipitation was 2.13 inches, ranking as the 14th-driest November in the historical record. It was drier than average across much of the Panhandle, Aleutians, West Coast and in parts of the interior regions and overall, snowfall was correspondingly below-average, especially across western Alaska.
According to the December 3 U.S. Drought Monitor, about 43.6% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, down nearly 10.5% from the end of October. Moderate to exceptional drought was widespread across much of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Northern Rockies and Plains, parts of the Southwest and Texas and in pockets across the central and southern Plains as well as the Tennessee Valley and central Gulf Coast.
Fall Highlights
September-November Temperature
The meteorological autumn (September-November) average temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 57.6°F, 4.1°F above average, ranking warmest on record.
Temperatures were above average to record warm across most of the contiguous U.S., with record-warm temperatures observed in Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Maine. An additional 18 states ranked among their warmest three autumns on record.
The contiguous U.S. average maximum (daytime) temperature during September-November was 70.2°F, 4.5°F above the 20th century average, ranking warmest on record. Daytime temperatures were above average across much of the contiguous U.S., while pockets of near-average temperatures were observed in portions of the West and eastern North Carolina. Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island each ranked warmest on record.
The contiguous U.S. average minimum (nighttime) temperature during this three-month period was 45.0°F, 3.7°F above the 20th century average, tying with 2015 for second warmest in the historical record. Above-average nighttime temperatures were observed across most of the U.S. during this three-month period. Minnesota, Mississippi and Maine each ranked second warmest on record for nighttime temperatures.
The Alaska autumn temperature was 27.9°F, 2.0°F above the long-term average, ranking in the warmest third of the record. Temperatures were above average across most of the North Slope, Aleutians and Northeast Gulf regions with near-average temperatures dominating the remaining portion of the state.
Based on REDTI, the contiguous U.S. temperature-related energy demand during September-November was 18 percent of average and was the fourth-lowest value on record.
September-November Precipitation
The contiguous U.S. autumn precipitation total was 6.23 inches, 0.65 inch below average, ranking in the driest third of the September-November record.
Precipitation was below average from the Southwest to the northern Plains and into the Great Lakes and Northeast. It was also drier than average across a large portion of Texas. Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maine each ranked driest on record for this three-month period. Autumn precipitation was above average along portions of the West Coast and from the central Rockies to parts of the Southeast.
The Alaska autumn precipitation ranked in the driest third of the record with wetter-than-average conditions observed across eastern and northern portions of the state and average to dry conditions dominating in the west and south, with a record-dry autumn in the Aleutians.
Extremes
The U.S. Climate Extremes Index (USCEI) for the autumn period was double the average value, ranking second highest in the 115-year period of record. Extremes in warm maximum temperatures (highest on record) and warm minimum temperatures (third highest on record) were the major contributors to this elevated CEI value. The USCEI is an index that tracks extremes (occurring in the upper or lower 10 percent of the record) in temperature, precipitation and drought across the contiguous United States.
On the regional scale, the South ranked highest on record for this autumn period and experienced record and near-record extremes in warm maximum and minimum temperatures and elevated extremes in 1-day precipitation. The Northwest, Southeast and Northern Rockies and Plains each ranked fifth highest on record with record- to near-record extremes in warm maximum and minimum temperatures, elevated extremes in 1-day precipitation for the Northwest and Southeast as well as days with precipitation across the Northwest. Conversely, extremes across the West were 18 percent below average, ranking in the middle third of the record for the autumn season.
Year-to-Date Highlights
January-November Temperature
For the January-November period, the average contiguous U.S. temperature was 57.1°F, 3.3°F above average, ranking warmest on record for this period.
Temperatures were above average across nearly all of the Lower 48 with record warmth concentrated across the Deep South and from the Upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast, extending into parts of the central Appalachians. Twenty-two states ranked warmest on record with an additional 11 states ranking among their warmest three such year-to-date periods on record.
The contiguous U.S. average maximum (daytime) temperature during January-November was 69.1°F, 3.2°F above the 20th century average, ranking second warmest in the historical record. Above-average temperatures were observed across nearly the entire contiguous U.S. with record warmth concentrated from the Great Lakes and central Appalachians to the Northeast. Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut each ranked warmest on record.
The contiguous U.S. average minimum (nighttime) temperature during this 11-month period was 45.0°F, 3.4°F above the 20th century average, ranking warmest in the historical record. Above-average nighttime temperatures were observed across nearly all of the contiguous U.S. Nineteen states ranked warmest on record for nighttime temperatures and an additional 24 states experienced a top-5 warmest event for nighttime temperatures during the January-November period.
The Alaska January-November temperature was 30.3°F, 2.3°F above the long-term average, ranking in the warmest third of the historical record for the state. Temperatures across much of the state were above average for the 11-month period with near-average temperatures observed across parts of southcentral Alaska, the Northeast Interior and Panhandle regions.
Based on REDTI, the contiguous U.S. temperature-related energy demand during January-November was 28 percent of average and was the fourth-lowest value on record.
January-November Precipitation
The January-November precipitation total for the contiguous U.S. was 29.15 inches, 1.57 inches above average, ranking in the wettest third of the 130-year record.
Precipitation was near to above average across much of the West Coast, parts of the central Rockies, southern and central Plains and across much of the eastern half of the Lower 48. Louisiana ranked eighth wettest on record. Conversely, precipitation was below average across parts of the Northern Rockies and Plains, Southwest, central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic.
The January-November precipitation ranked in the middle third of the 100-year record for Alaska. Year-to-date precipitation was above average acorss the northern three-fourths of the state, and much below average in the Aleutians and southern Panhandle.
Extremes
The U.S. Climate Extremes Index (USCEI) for the year-to-date period was 124 percent above average, ranking second highest in the 115-year period of record. Extremes in warm maximum and minimum temperatures as well as extremes in 1-day precipitation were the major contributors to this elevated CEI value. The USCEI is an index that tracks extremes (occurring in the upper or lower 10 percent of the record) in temperature, precipitation and drought across the contiguous United States.
On the regional scale, extremes across the Northeast were the highest on record for this period and can be attributed to record warm maximum and minimum temperatures and three times the average extent of wet PDSI and days with precipitation across the region. The Southeast and South regions ranked second highest. Major contributors to the near-record extent of extremes across both regions were due to warm maximum and minimum temperatures as well as extremes in 1-day precipitation across the Southeast. Extremes in warm maximum and minimum temperatures gave high ranks to other regions. The Upper Midwest ranked sixth highest and the Ohio Valley ranked fifth highest. In addition, the Northwest ranked fourth highest, due to elevated extremes in 1-day precipitation, days with precipitation, and warm minimum temperatures.
Monthly Outlook
According to the November 30 One-Month Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center, above-normal monthly average temperatures are favored across the western U.S. and much of Alaska. Below-normal temperatures are most likely to occur from the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic to New England. Parts of the Northern Rockies and Plains and much of Alaska are favored to see above-normal monthly total precipitation while below-normal precipitation is most likely to occur across portions of the Southwest. Drought improvement or removal is forecast across parts of the Deep South and Northern Rockies and Plains. Persistence and/or development is more likely across portions of the Southwest, Northern Rockies and Plains, Great Lakes and Northeast.
According to the One-Month Outlook issued on December 2 from the National Interagency Fire Center, above-normal significant wildland fire potential during the month of December is most likely to occur across parts of southern California, central Texas and from the central Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic.
Regional Highlights
These regional summaries were provided by the six Regional Climate Centers and reflect conditions in their respective regions. These six regions differ spatially from the nine climatic regions of the National Centers for Environmental Information.
Northeast (Information provided by the Northeast Regional Climate Center)
November and autumn featured record warm temperatures, record little precipitation, and record-setting snowfall extremes, along with intensifying drought conditions.
Temperature
This November was the fifth-warmest November in 130 years of recordkeeping for the Northeast. The region’s average temperature of 43.5 degrees F was 4.1 degrees F warmer than normal. Maine experienced its warmest November on record, while the month ranked among the 11 warmest Novembers for the other 11 Northeast states: Connecticut, third warmest; Massachusetts, fourth warmest; New Hampshire, New Jersey, and West Virginia, fifth warmest; Rhode Island, sixth warmest; Delaware, seventh warmest; Maryland, eighth warmest; New York, 10th warmest; and Pennsylvania and Vermont, 11th warmest. Overall, November average temperatures ranged from 3.6 degrees F above normal in Rhode Island and Vermont to 4.8 degrees F above normal in Maine. In addition, this November was the warmest November on record for Washington, D.C.; Hartford, Connecticut; and Caribou, Maine. During the first week of November, eight major climate sites saw their warmest high temperature for November, while three major climate sites saw their warmest low temperature for November. Autumn 2024 wrapped up as the second-warmest autumn since 1895, with an average temperature of 52.9 degrees F, 2.5 degrees F above normal. This autumn was record warm in Maine and ranked among the 10 warmest on record for the other 11 Northeast states: Vermont, second warmest; New Hampshire, New Jersey, and New York, fourth warmest; Connecticut, Massachusetts, and West Virginia, fifth warmest; Pennsylvania, sixth warmest; Rhode Island, seventh warmest; Maryland, ninth warmest; and Delaware, 10th warmest. State average temperatures for autumn ranged from 1.6 degrees F in Delaware to 3.2 degrees F above normal in Maine. Additionally, autumn 2024 was the warmest autumn on record for Worcester, Massachusetts, and Caribou, Maine.
Precipitation
During November, the Northeast picked up 2.92 inches of precipitation, which was 84 percent of normal. November precipitation for the 12 Northeast states ranged from 60 percent of normal in Delaware to 115 percent of normal in West Virginia, the lone wetter-than-normal state. Autumn 2024 was the sixth driest autumn since recordkeeping began in 1895 for the Northeast. The region saw 6.65 inches of precipitation, which was 57 percent of normal. Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, and New Jersey experienced a record-dry autumn, while this season ranked among the nine driest for another seven states: Massachusetts, second driest; New Hampshire, fourth driest; Rhode Island, fifth driest; Vermont, sixth driest; Maryland, seventh driest; New York, eighth driest; and Pennsylvania, ninth driest. Autumn precipitation for all 12 Northeast states ranged from 24 percent of normal in Delaware to 92 percent of normal in West Virginia. Also, autumn 2024 was the driest autumn on record for Wilmington, Delaware; Hartford, Connecticut; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Newark, New Jersey; and Kennedy Airport, New York.
Drought
The U.S. Drought Monitor from November 5 showed 57 percent of the Northeast in drought and 37 percent of the region as abnormally dry. The first half of November was quite dry for much of the region, allowing drought and abnormal dryness to expand and intensify. However, the second half of the month featured some beneficial precipitation, pausing deterioration for most areas. During November, extreme drought expanded in New Jersey and was introduced in Delaware, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Severe and moderate drought expanded in an area from Maryland to Maine, pushing farther inland, as well. Abnormal dryness increased in coverage in interior locations. As of November 19, only 3.15 percent of the Northeast was not experiencing drought or abnormal dryness, the third lowest percentage since the U.S. Drought Monitor began in 2000. The main exception was the region’s southwestern corner, including southwestern Pennsylvania and much of West Virginia, which saw timely precipitation throughout the month. Exceptional drought was erased from West Virginia after a record-long stretch of 12 consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, extreme drought eased, and severe and moderate drought contracted in the region’s southwestern corner. The U.S. Drought Monitor from November 26 showed 61 percent of the Northeast in drought and 36 percent of the region as abnormally dry. There were a multitude of impacts tied to the dry conditions. Streamflow and/or groundwater levels were much below normal or record low in multiple parts of the region, particularly in an area from Maryland to Maine. Sections of some smaller waterways in places like southeastern Pennsylvania and eastern Massachusetts completely dried up. Meanwhile, the salt front on the Delaware River was unusually far north, nearly 20 miles upstream from its typical November location, reaching the Philadelphia Airport for only the fifth time on record. Private wells ran dry in places like Pennsylvania, Maine, and Connecticut. A drought-related water shortage forced a West Virginia school to close and switch to remote learning for multiple days. There were concerns in Pennsylvania and Maine about limited water supplies for rural firefighting operations. Reservoir levels also declined in some areas including central New Jersey, where the Manasquan Reservoir hit record-low levels, and Attleboro, Massachusetts, where water had to be imported from a nearby community. Additional water suppliers in places like eastern Massachusetts, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania enacted mandatory water restrictions, while residents in many other areas were asked to voluntarily conserve water. Wildfire activity continued to be unusually high across the Northeast, particularly during the first half of the month, with fires burning deeper making them harder to extinguish. Pennsylvania saw at least 100 wildfires in just the first week of November, with the state seeing more wildfires this fall than during all of the spring fire season. New Jersey saw over 300 wildfires between October 20 and the first week of November. The state had seen 30 percent more fires than average for the year (through mid-November), with 7,000 more acres burned than average. A fire along the New York-New Jersey border consumed around 2,500 acres in each state, making it one of New York's largest fires since 2008. The fire prompted evacuations, and as firefighters battled the blaze, schools were closed, and power was turned off. New York City’s fire department responded to a record-high 271 brush fires from November 1 to 14 and created its first-ever brush fire task force. Massachusetts had over 400 wildfires in November, well above the six-year average of 20 fires. Maine saw ten times its average number of fires during October and the first week of November. Connecticut officials called this wildfire season “one of the most challenging” the state has faced in recent history, with 227 fires between October 21 and late November. West Virginia saw over 100 wildfires in November, pushing the year-to-date total over 1,000, which was above the annual average of 796 wildfires (based on the state’s 2018 hazard mitigation plan). Some of the wildfires in the Northeast damaged houses and forced residents to evacuate, while wildfire smoke reduced air quality, led to hazy skies, and limited visibility on roadways. Burn bans were enacted or remained in place in multiple locations through much of November. However, beneficial precipitation later in the month allowed many of these bans to be lifted. Topsoil was notably dry for large portions of multiple states, with USDA data for agricultural lands showing 100 percent of Connecticut and New Jersey, 94 percent of Maryland, 92 percent of Delaware, 88 percent of West Virginia, and 56 percent of Pennsylvania having topsoil moisture in the very short-short categories, the driest two categories, for the week ending November 17. For the same week, only 16 percent of winter wheat had emerged in New Jersey compared to the five-year average of 73 percent. Dry conditions made planting fall cover crops difficult, with some growers relying on irrigation. However, expenses related to irrigation and purchasing feed drove up operations costs for farms, which also lost revenue due to reduced yields. Farmers across the Northeast reported their Christmas trees, particularly saplings, were dying off due to the drought conditions. For instance, over 1,000 Christmas trees died on a farm in Frederick County, Maryland, resulting in at least $10,000 in losses for the 100 trees that were supposed to be sold this year.
Notable Weather
The first week of November was unusually warm, with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s and low temperatures in the 50s and 60s. Several sites including Bridgeport, Connecticut; Rochester, New York; and Huntington, West Virginia, saw their warmest high temperature for November. A few sites including Buffalo, New York; Portland, Maine; and Worcester, Massachusetts, saw their warmest low temperature for November. Additionally, multiple places had one of their 10 warmest high and/or low temperatures for the month, in some cases for multiple days. For example, Kennedy Airport, New York, had its record warmest, fourth warmest, and ninth warmest high temperatures for November. On November 10, the first measurable precipitation in over five weeks was finally seen for sites like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Wilmington, Delaware; Newark, New Jersey; and Washington, D.C., ending their record-long streaks of consecutive days without measurable precipitation. For instance, Philadelphia’s streak was 42 days, or six weeks, lasting from September 29 to November 9 and beating its previous record-long streak of 29 days in 1874. The lack of precipitation contributed to intensifying drought conditions through mid-month and resulted in a multitude of impacts, which are mentioned above in the drought section. From November 20 to 23, a complex storm system dropped up to 3 inches of precipitation on the Northeast. The precipitation was much-needed in drought-stricken areas, with sites like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware, seeing around 1 inch of rain and sites like Central Park, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts, picking up over 2 inches. Islip, New York, saw 2.26 inches of precipitation on November 21, making it the site’s fifth-wettest November day on record. Most areas also saw at least some snowflakes, with lower elevations seeing little but some higher elevations in parts of the Mid-Atlantic and New York seeing over 12 inches of snow. The greatest snowfall totals were around 20 inches, reported at sites in Sussex County, New Jersey, and Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, November 22 became one of the 10 snowiest November days on record for Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Binghamton, New York, which saw 10.7 inches and 7.3 inches, respectively. The storm also produced an EF-0 tornado in western Pennsylvania. A major lake-effect snowfall event got underway on November 29. Erie accumulated 22.6 inches of snow that day, making it the site’s all-time snowiest day since its records began in 1893. The snow shut down parts of major roadways on busy post-Thanksgiving travel and shopping days. The storm continued into early December, with the greatest snowfall totals (as of the morning of December 2) east of Lake Ontario including 65.5 inches in Jefferson County, New York, and 60.0 inches in Lewis County, New York, and east of Lake Erie including 59.3 inches in Erie County, Pennsylvania, and 56.5 inches in Chautauqua County, New York. Another lake-effect location, Rochester, New York, missed out, not seeing even a trace of snowfall in November or autumn for the first time since its records began in 1871.
For more information, please visit the Northeast Regional Climate Center Home Page.
Midwest Region (Information provided by the Midwest Regional Climate Center)
Temperature
The preliminary average November temperature for the Midwest was 43 degrees F (6.1 degrees C), which was 4.4 degrees F (2.5 degrees C) above the 1991-2020 normal. Preliminary rankings indicate the Midwest as a whole achieved the 9th warmest November on record. Preliminary statewide average temperatures ranged from 3.4 degrees F (1.9 degrees C) above normal in Iowa to 5.5 degrees F (3.1 degrees C) above normal in Kentucky. Preliminary rankings indicate the following states had a top 8 warmest November on record: Indiana (6th), Kentucky (5th), Michigan (4th), Ohio (6th), and Wisconsin (8th). While both daytime high and nighttime low temperatures were persistently above normal throughout the month, it was the magnitude of the overnight warmth that was notable. Most weather stations along and east of the Mississippi River had low temperatures for the month that were 5-8 degrees F (2.8-4.4 degrees C) above normal. On November 4, Paducah, Kentucky, set a record-high November minimum temperature of 71 degrees F (21.7 degrees C). Lexington, Kentucky, observed a minimum temperature of 67 degrees F (19.4 degrees C) on November 6, which was the warmest November minimum temperature since records began in 1872. A potent weather system traversed the Midwest on November 25, ushering in a dramatic change in temperatures that would linger for the rest of the month (and into December). Temperatures dropped 20-30 degrees F (11-16.6 degrees C) in 24 hours across the lower Midwest as the cold front swept through. Daytime high temperatures only reached the teens and 20s across the Upper and Central Midwest on the closing days of the month. The preliminary average fall (September-November) temperature for the Midwest was 4.2 degrees F (2.3 degrees C) above normal, which was the 3rd warmest on record.
Precipitation
Preliminary November precipitation totaled 3.94 inches (100 mm) for the Midwest, which was 1.4 inches (36 mm) above normal, or 155 percent of normal. Preliminary rankings indicate the Midwest as a whole had its 7th wettest November on record. Precipitation was 150-300 percent of normal for a wide area across the western half of the region, with precipitation 125-200 percent of normal along the Ohio River. Every state had above-normal November precipitation, with preliminary statewide totals that ranged from 0.49 inches (12 mm) above normal in Ohio to 3.54 inches (89.9 mm) above normal in Kentucky. Preliminary rankings indicate that Missouri had its 7th wettest November on record. Precipitation totals were particularly high across southern Missouri, driven by heavy rains during the first week of the month. A new two-day statewide precipitation record for November was set on Election Day (November 5) when Mountain Grove, Missouri, measured 12.5 inches (317.5 mm) of rain. Heavy rainfall on November 5 alone dropped 4-8 inches (101.6-203.2 mm) of flooding rain across a wide swath from south-central Missouri to the St. Louis area, inundating roadways and resulting in three fatalities. St. Louis had its 2nd wettest November on record (dating back 148 years), with 9.68 inches (245.9 mm). Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was another very wet area for November, with Sault Ste Marie having its wettest November on record (dating back 137 years) and Marquette having its 2nd wettest November. Fall (September-November) precipitation for the Midwest totaled 4.28 inches (184.9 mm), which was 1.78 inches (45.2 mm) below normal.
Drought
The month concluded with about 70 percent of the Midwest classified as abnormally dry or in drought, according to the U.S. Drought (USDM) map, which was a 24 percent reduction in drought coverage compared to the start of November. Dryness was completely removed around the southern extent of the Mississippi River and along the Ohio River. Southeast Ohio, which had been locked in exceptional (D4) drought for months, saw notable improvements in drought extent and severity. Relief was notable across the central and western regions, too, where severe (D2) drought was largely eliminated.
Late November Lake-Effect Snow (LES)
The persistently warm fall temperatures resulted in record-high water temperatures in the Great Lakes by late November, which fueled a significant lake-effect snow event starting November 28 as cold arctic air spilled across the region. Snowfall totaled 24.8 inches (63 cm) in Gaylord, Michigan, on November 29, setting a new daily record. Across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, 10-20 inches (25.4-50.8 cm) of snow fell from Nov 28-30, with isolated heavier amounts. Extreme northeast Ohio accumulated 5-10 inches (12.7-25.4) of snow during that time. The intense LES persisted for a week into December, with storm event snowfall totals that would top out at 20-50 inches (50.8-127 cm) in northern Michigan and northeast Ohio.
For further details on the weather and climate events in the Midwest, see the weekly and monthly reports at the Midwest Climate Watch page.
Southeast (Information provided by the Southeast Regional Climate Center)
Temperature
Mean temperatures were above average across the Southeast in November. The greatest departures were found across the northern Gulf Coast, extending into Alabama, Georgia, and eastern portions of the Carolinas, where temperatures were 6 to 8 degrees F (3.4 to 4.5 degrees C) above average for the month. Mean temperatures were 4 to 5 degrees F (2.2 to 2.8 degrees C) above average across the rest of the region, except across parts of the Florida Peninsula, where temperatures were 1 to 2 degrees F (0.5 to 1.1 degrees C) above average. Huntsville, AL (1894-2024), Mobile, AL (1871-2024), and Washington D.C. (1871-2024) recorded their warmest November on record, while Tuscaloosa, AL (1948-2024) and Valdosta, GA (1948-2024) tied their warmest November on record. Several other locations recorded one of their warmest Novembers on record. Muscle Shoals, AL (1893-2024), Montgomery, AL (1872-2024), Pensacola, FL (1879-2024), Tallahassee, FL (1896-2024), Columbus, GA (1891-2024), and Albany, GA (1892-2024) recorded their second warmest November on record; Birmingham, AL (1895-2024), Columbia, SC (1887-2024), Asheville, NC (1869-2024), Raleigh-Durham, NC (1887-2024), Norfolk, VA (1874-2024), and Richmond, VA (1871-2024) recorded their third warmest November on record; Savannah, GA (1871-2024), Atlanta, GA (1878-2024), and Charleston, SC (1938-2024) recorded their fourth warmest November on record, while Athens, GA (1898-2024) recorded its fifth warmest November and Charlotte, NC (1878-2024) tied its fifth warmest November on record.
The warmest weather of the month occurred from the 5th to the 8th in advance of a cold front, with maximum temperatures running 15 to 20 degrees F (8.3 to 11.1 degrees C) above average across much of the region. Some locations across the northern tier were over 25 degrees F (13.9 degrees C) above average, with temperatures exceeding 80 degrees F (26.7 degrees C) across northern Virginia and approaching 90 degrees F (32.2 degrees C) across portions of Georgia and the Carolinas. Lynchburg, VA (1893-2024) recorded its highest monthly maximum temperature of 85 degrees F (29.4 degrees C) on the 7th, breaking the previous record of 84 degrees F (28.9 degrees C) set on the same day in 2022. On the 6th, Roanoke, VA (1912-2024) tied its highest monthly maximum temperature of 83 degrees F (28.3 degrees C), while Valdosta, GA also tied its highest monthly maximum temperature of 89 degrees F (31.7 degrees C) the day prior. Tampa, FL (1890-2024) recorded a maximum temperature of 91 degrees F (32.8 degrees C) on the 6th, which is just 1 degree F (0.5 degrees C) shy of its highest monthly maximum temperature on record. That day, the heat index reached 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) in Tampa, making it the highest value on record for November (since 1940). In Miami, FL (1895-2024), the temperature that morning dropped to just 81 degrees F (27.2 degrees C), making it the highest minimum temperature on record for November.
The coldest weather of the month (and season) occurred on the 29th and 30th, as a modified Arctic air mass poured into the region. Mean temperatures were between 10 and 20 degrees F (5.6 and 11.1 degrees C) below average, except across South Florida. Morning temperatures dropped below 10 degrees F (-12.2 degrees C) along the higher elevations of North Carolina, and below 20 degrees F (-6.7 degrees C) as far south as northern Alabama. Subfreezing temperatures were reported across parts of the Florida Panhandle, while temperatures dropped below 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) along the I-4 corridor. This marked one of the latest first freezes of the season for several long-term stations, including Raleigh-Durham, NC (record is December 3rd), Richmond, VA (record is December 2nd), and Huntsville, AL (record is December 5th). A few other long-term stations recorded their latest or one of their latest first freezes on record during the month, including Roanoke, VA on the 27th (previous record was November 19th), Danville, VA on the 21st (previous record was November 13th), Greensboro, NC on the 22nd (record is December 1st), and Lynchburg, VA on the 17th (record is November 18th). Raleigh-Durham also recorded its longest freeze-free period on record of 281 days (February 21st to November 29th), which broke the previous record of 266 days from March 1-November 23, 1935.
Temperatures in November were above average across Puerto Rico and Saint Croix, and slightly below average across Saint Thomas. San Juan, PR (1898-2024) recorded its second warmest November on record. On the 3rd, San Juan reached 94 degrees F (34.4 degrees C), which is just 2 degrees F (1.1 degrees C) shy of its highest November maximum temperature on record. For the year, San Juan has recorded 176 days with a maximum temperature of at least 90 degrees F (32.2 degrees C), which is the longest such streak on record (the previous record was 172 days set back in 1983).
Precipitation
Precipitation was below average across most of the Southeast in November. The driest locations were found across large portions of Virginia and North Carolina, central and southern portions of Alabama, and much of the Florida Peninsula, where many locations recorded less than half of their expected precipitation for the month. West Palm Beach, FL (1888-2024) recorded its driest November on record with just 0.13 inches (3.3 mm), breaking the previous record of 0.20 inches (5.1 mm) set back in 1892. Several locations ended long streaks of consecutive dry days during the month, some of which were record-breaking. On the 4th, Augusta, GA (1873-2024) ended a streak of 38 consecutive days without measurable precipitation, which broke the previous record of 37 consecutive days set back in November 2000. Washington D.C. also ended a streak of 38 consecutive dry days on the 9th, which broke the previous record of 34 consecutive days set back in October 2007, while Norfolk, VA ended a streak of 36 consecutive dry days on the 7th, breaking its previous record of 33 consecutive days set back in November 2000. Atlanta, GA and Lynchburg, VA recorded their second longest streaks on record of 41 and 38 consecutive dry days, respectively.
In contrast, precipitation was above average across northern portions of Alabama and Georgia, and along the northern Gulf Coast from Mobile Bay to the Emerald Coast of Florida. Most of the precipitation fell from the 13th to the 15th and 19th to the 20th of the month as a series of low pressure systems tracked across the region. Rome, GA recorded 3.31 inches (84 mm) on the 19th, making it the second wettest November day on record (since 1948). However, the greatest departures were found in a swath extending from the central Panhandle of Florida through eastern portions of Georgia and South Carolina, where several locations recorded two to three times their expected monthly totals. Valdosta, GA recorded its wettest November on record with 10.66 inches (271 mm). Much of this precipitation fell on the 6th and 7th of the month, as many locations recorded 6 to 12 inches (152 to 305 mm), with some locally heavier amounts. Monticello, GA, located southeast of Atlanta, recorded 7.60 inches (193 mm) on the 7th, making it the wettest day on record (since 1892). Savannah, GA and Augusta, GA also recorded their wettest day on record with 4.35 inches (111 mm) and 4.57 inches (116 mm), respectively. Winter precipitation was recorded on the 21st and 22nd. Trace amounts of snow fell in places like Caesar's Head, SC, Asheville, NC, Roanoke, VA, and Washington D.C., while measurable snow fell across the higher elevations of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Burke’s Garden, located above 3,000 feet (914 m) in southwestern Virginia, recorded over 7 inches (178 mm) of snow, while Beech Mountain, NC, located above 5,500 feet (1676 m), recorded 9 inches (229 mm), making it the snowiest November day on record (since 1991).
Precipitation was also above average across much of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Saint Thomas (1953-2024) recorded its third wettest November on record with 11.48 inches (292 mm). Several CoCoRaHS gauges on the islands recorded over 10 inches (254 mm), which is more than twice the expected amount for the month. The wettest place was Paraiso, located in the central mountainous region of Puerto Rico, which recorded its third wettest November on record (since 1956) with 27.30 inches (693 mm).
Drought
There were mostly minor changes in drought conditions across the Southeast in November. Moderate (D1) drought expanded across northern portions of Virginia, eastern portions of the Carolinas, northern portions of Georgia, and parts of the Florida Panhandle. Severe (D2) drought persisted across eastern portions of Virginia and northern and southern portions of Alabama, where pockets of extreme (D3) drought were also found. Abnormal dryness (D0) emerged across South Florida. On the other hand, areas of abnormal dryness (D0) and moderate (D1) drought were eliminated across central portions of South Carolina and eastern portions of Georgia. The pockets of abnormal dryness (D0) across Puerto Rico were also eliminated by the end of the month.
Agriculture
Recent dry conditions have helped farmers complete their harvests, but extreme dryness in some areas, particularly in Alabama, has forced others to abandon plans for planting winter forage and crops. Many producers have already begun feeding hay, raising concerns about shortages lasting through the winter. Producers who are unable to find supplemental hay may be forced to sell their livestock early. In areas that received rainfall, the soil has loosened, enabling farmers to plant some winter crops. However, some parts of Georgia and South Carolina received too much rain, preventing machines from getting in the fields and delaying harvests. The mild fall weather, with little frost and no freezes, led to the regrowth of certain crops, particularly cotton and peanuts, while also prolonging the activity of pests such as armyworms. However, cooler temperatures and rain over the past few weeks have helped with the planting of winter wheat, which showed emergence in some areas by the end of the month. Pasture conditions also improved with the rainfall and cooler weather, benefiting some operators who were able to seed winter grazing crops.
Notable Weather
There were only four reports of severe weather across the Southeast in November, which is well-below the median frequency of 41 reports over the period 2000-2023 (10 percent of normal). There were no confirmed tornadoes (median frequency is 10). The last month with no confirmed tornadoes in the region was March 2015. There were three high wind reports, which is well-below the median frequency of 29 (10 percent of normal). Strong winds, rip currents, and heavy rain were reported across parts of the Florida Keys as Hurricane Rafael passed to the southwest during the first week of the month. In addition, wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph (22 to 27 m/s) were recorded from the Florida Panhandle to Washington D.C. between the 19th and 22nd in association with a low pressure system across the northern tier of the U.S. The heavy precipitation that fell across portions of Georgia and South Carolina on the 6th and 7th caused extensive flooding of roadways, resulting in stranded vehicles and multiple water rescues. Two drowning deaths were confirmed in Orangeburg County, SC. According to the South Carolina State Climatology Office, the North Fork River at Orangeburg set a new all-time crest of over 15 feet (4.6 m). Several streams in eastern South Carolina reached major to record flood stage during the event. The only hail report in the region occurred on the 28th with quarter-sized stones (1 inch or 25 mm) just north of Valdosta in southern Georgia. There were six rip current fatalities, five in Florida and one in Puerto Rico.
For more information, please visit the Southeast Regional Climate Center Home Page.
High Plains (Information provided by the High Plains Regional Climate Center)
The steady intensification of drought conditions across the High Plains was halted in November, with large portions of the region observing over 200 percent of their normal precipitation. However, Parts of Wyoming and the Dakotas were not as fortunate, missing out on the much-needed precipitation. Outside of Colorado, temperatures remained above normal at the end of the fall season.
Two major snowstorms impacted Colorado this month, one of which struck the state ahead of Thanksgiving. The first storm took place beginning on the 5th and ended early on the 9th. Travel was greatly hampered, with both I-70 and I-25 shut down. Roughly 1000 flights were canceled or delayed at Denver International due to the storm, while thousands of people were without power in the city. On the plains east of Denver, over 100 pronghorns were found dead after the heavy snow forced them onto roads. The equivalent liquid precipitation from this storm was over 3 inches (7.62 cm) in some areas, which translates to roughly 20 percent of their annual precipitation. A second storm just before Thanksgiving disrupted travel plans and caused havoc on I-70 in the mountains. Dozens of avalanches were reported across the state, including near popular locations such as Breckenridge.
Temperature
Temperatures began to cool off in Colorado and western Wyoming this month, but the rest of the region remained above normal. Parts of Kansas and Nebraska were up to 6 degrees F (3.3 degrees C) above normal, concluding a very warm fall for the High Plains.
While no records were broken this month, numerous stations recorded their warmest fall. Every state in the High Plains had at least one location surpass their record, with 110 broken in total. Wyoming led the way with 42 stations, however, no major locations such as Cheyenne or Sheridan were ranked. Colorado came in second, with 22 stations ranking their warmest temperature. This included Grand Junction, while Denver and Akron ranked in the top 5. South Dakota had 16 stations ranked warmest, including Sioux Falls and Mobridge. Dozens of stations across the High Plains fell just shy of the records set during the exceptionally hot fall of 1963.
Precipitation
After near-record levels of dryness this fall, November brought well above normal precipitation for much of the region. The majority of Kansas was above 200 percent of normal, while areas near Dodge City reached as high as 800 percent. Some areas in the western High Plains were nearly bone dry, with up to 0.10 inches (2.54 mm) of precipitation.
Kansas received generous amounts of precipitation this month, with multiple locations recording their wettest November. Notable long-term stations setting their record included Dodge City, Goodland, and Wichita. The southeastern part of the state had several locations observe more than 10 inches (25.4 cm) this month, with up to 6 inches (15.24 cm) falling on the 3rd. Pittsburg nearly set the statewide November precipitation record, with 11.80 inches (29.97 cm) of precipitation.
Parts of Nebraska were near record to record wettest this month. Lincoln and Omaha ranked third and seventh, respectively, after receiving over 3 inches (7.62 cm). Beatrice broke their previous record by over an inch (2.54 cm), with 4.50 inches (11.43 cm) falling this month. Other places in the state observing record precipitation this month were Minden and Mead.
A very early-season snowstorm in Colorado dumped record-breaking amounts of snow early in the month. Over two feet of snow (60.96 cm) fell in places across the state on the 7th, causing a multitude of problems. Several other snowstorms impacted parts of Colorado, including another one on the 27th that dropped over a foot (30.48 cm) in the mountains. At the end of the month, several stations near Mount Lindsey (east of Alamosa) recorded over 50 inches (1.35 m) of snow.
Drought
Heavy precipitation, particularly in Kansas and eastern Colorado, helped ease drought conditions this month. For the most part, only improvements were made in November. Overall, the region observed a decrease of over 9 percent in abnormally dry to exceptional drought conditions (D0 to D4).
Kansas benefitted greatly from the precipitation, with up to 3 categories of improvement this month. Extreme drought (D3) and severe drought (D2) were eliminated, while moderate drought (D1) was reduced by nearly 46 percent in the state. Soil moisture and winter wheat have also responded positively to the influx of moisture.
Colorado also experienced widespread improvements this month. Drought conditions across the eastern part of the state were significantly reduced, with only D0 remaining. The pocket of D3 near Fort Collins remains but has shrunk significantly. Elsewhere in the region, other improvements and degradation were observed.
For more information, please visit the High Plains Regional Climate Center Home Page.
South (Information provided by the Southern Regional Climate Center)
Warm and wet conditions across much of the Southern Region led to many records falling during November.
Temperature
Temperatures were above normal in the entirety of the Southern Region during November. The greatest departures from normal were seen along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana where stations averaged nine to twelve degrees F above normal during the month. The temperatures closest to normal were seen throughout the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, where temperatures were at normal to three degrees F above normal. Temperatures were well above their median historical values, with all six states and the entire Southern Region being in the top ten, including three records: Louisiana (1st warmest, out of 130 years), Mississippi (1st warmest), the Southern Region as a whole (1st warmest), Arkansas (2nd warmest), Tennessee (2nd warmest), Texas (3rd Warmest), and Tennessee (10th warmest). The warmest recorded temperature in the Region for November was 100 degrees F at Faith Ranch Airport, Texas on November 4th. The coolest observed temperature in the Region was 14 F at Newfound Gap on November 30th and Mt Leconte Tennessee on November 23rd. The coldest lowland temperature was 17 degrees F near Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, Texas on November 29th. There were five long-term stations in Texas and Louisiana that set records for highest temperature in November, the largest difference between old and new records being three degrees F at College Station, Texas on November 3rd and Cotulla, Texas on November 4th. No stations set records for lowest temperature in November, but 46 stations set records for highest minimum temperature during November in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Precipitation
Precipitation was variable across the Southern Region during November with well below normal accumulations in South Texas and the Big Bend Region of Texas, while precipitation was near to slightly above normal in the east, with isolated higher areas near the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Mississippi. Precipitation in the northwestern portion of the Region was well above normal with many stations in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles exceeding 800 percent of normal precipitation for November. Statewide rankings were above normal for much of the Region, including one record: Oklahoma (1st wettest), the Southern Region as a whole (14th wettest), Louisiana (22nd wettest), Arkansas (26th wettest), Texas (27th wettest), and Mississippi (38th wettest). Tennessee was near its historical median value for November. Four stations, one COOP and three CoCoRaHS, all in Louisiana, had accumulations over 17 inches: FSA-Marksville (17.8 inches), Marksville (17.27 inches), near Pineville (17.12 inches), and near Hessmer (17.06 inches). Two stations, one in Louisiana and one in Arkansas, saw one day precipitation accumulations of over nine inches: Jonesville Locks, Louisiana (9.1 inches, November 10th) and near Jasper, Arkansas (9.3 inches, November 5th). Fifty-seven long-term stations set records for highest daily accumulation during November across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
Drought/Flooding
As of December 3rd, 62 percent of the Southern Region was free of drought, up from 39 percent on November 5th. There were widespread improvements to drought status across the Texas Panhandle, much of Oklahoma, western Arkansas, East Texas, portions of Louisiana, much of Mississippi, and western Tennessee. Degradations were evident in Deep South Texas, isolated areas of Central and Far West Texas, portions of eastern Arkansas, and eastern Tennessee. As of December 3rd: 23 percent of the Region is in Moderate Drought, 8.7 percent in Severe Drought, 3.7 percent in Extreme Drought, and 3.2 percent in Exceptional Drought. Extreme and Exceptional Drought are restricted to Central Texas, Far West Texas, a small portion of southcentral Tennessee, and a very small area in southeastern Mississippi. Eastern and southern portions of the Region continued to see impacts from ongoing drought, including low stream flows, low reservoir storage, low soil moisture, and stressed range and pasture conditions. Areas across Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle saw easing of drought conditions and a rebound in soil moisture conditions with timely rains during November.
Notable Weather
November was the last month of Atlantic Hurricane Season for 2024, though no systems impacted the Southern Region during November. There were 27 confirmed tornadoes in the Southern Region affecting the states of Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. The ratings of these tornadoes are: 11 EF0, 12 EF1, 1 EF2, and 3 EF3. An EF3 tornado on November 4th in Harrah, Oklahoma injured seven. Another EF3 tornado, also on November 4th in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma injured six. There were 26 hail reports in the Southern Region during November, the largest being 2.75 inches in Grape Creek, Texas on November 2nd. There were 76 severe wind reports during November, with the fastest being 94 miles per hour near Talala, Oklahoma on November 4th.
For more information, please visit the Southern Regional Climate Center Home Page.
West (Information provided by the Western Region Climate Center)
November was marked by relatively normal temperatures across the western United States with areas in northern New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, California, and Nevada seeing below normal temperatures. Precipitation totals on the other hand were very varied depending on location. Northern California, New Mexico, Eastern Washington, Oregon, and Idaho saw precipitation totals well above normal with stations setting record totals in those regions. A strong atmospheric river moved over the area the last week of November accounting for most of the record to near record totals in northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Temperature
A record coldest November in station’s 86 year period of record was set in Grenville, New Mexico at 26.4 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Fahrenheit below normal). Alcalde, New Mexico recorded a mean temperature of 37 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Fahrenheit below average). Some stations in Arizona that recorded mean temperatures below normal were: Kingman at 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), Cameron at 41.8 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), San Simon at 48.1 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), and Yuma at 60.4 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Fahrenheit below normal). Utah stations also recorded mean temperatures below normal in: Vernon at 31 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), Logan at 31.8 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), Ferron at 32.2 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), and La Sul at 34.2 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Fahrenheit below normal). Other locations of note include Pahrump, NV at 47.8 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), Tonopah, NV at 36.2 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), Potter Valley, CA at 48.8 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), Napa, CA at 48.9 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), Lancaster, CA at 48 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Fahrenheit below normal), and Grass Valley, CA at 44.7 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Fahrenheit below normal).
Precipitation
Most of southern Nevada, southern California, and Arizona saw no measurable precipitation for the month of November. This tied the driest November for these stations. Of more impact, were the effects of an AR4 rated atmospheric river (on a scale of 1 to 5) that impacted the Pacific Northwest and northern California from November 19th through 22nd bringing record rain totals to many sites. In California records were broken in Quincy at 16.16 inches (12.1 inches above normal), Mount Shasta at 12.12 inches (7.84 inches above normal), and Santa Rosa at 15.47 inches (11.89 inches above normal). Other locations in California with near record rainfall totals for the month of November were Orland with its third wettest at 7.16 inches (5.12 inches above normal), Healdsburg with its second wettest at 20.04 inches (15.58 inches above normal), Cloverdale with its third wettest at 16.9 inches (12.21 inches above normal), and Red Bluff at 7.47 inches (4.93 inches above normal). Areas in Oregon and Washington also near record precipitation totals in Ephrata, WA with its second wettest at 2.71 inches (1.85 inches above normal), Burns, OR with its third wettest at 3.18 inches (2.16 inches above normal), Northport, WA with its fourth wettest at 4.29 inches (2.05 inches above normal), and Ritzville, WA with its fourth wettest at 3.35 inches (1.77 inches above normal). New Mexico also saw record to near record totals with a new record in Portales at 5.48 inches (4.92 inches above normal), a new record in Encino at 2.10 inches (1.53 inches above normal), a third wettest in Conchas at 2.4 inches (1.84 inches above normal), a fourth wettest in Santa Fe at 1.11 inches (0.41 inches above normal), and a fifth wettest in Roswell at 2.79 inches (2.34 inches above normal). Some other locations of note include: Riggins, ID with its second wettest at 4.15 inches (2.72 inches above normal), Picabo, ID at 2.51 inches (1.46 inches above normal), and Manti, UT at 2.12 inches (1.13 inches above normal).
Drought
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) at the end of November, 35 percent of the West was in drought. A wetter than normal November for much of the west helped to decrease drought conditions by 8 percent from last month. Moderate drought (D1) is still present in all western states. Areas of extreme (D3) drought are found in eastern Montana, southwestern Montana, the southern tip of Nevada, eastern Arizona, and southern New Mexico. The only areas of exceptional (D4) drought is in west central Montana.
Alaska Summary
Temperatures across Alaska were normal with temperatures only ranging a few degrees above or below normal. Most notable with slightly warmer conditions were in the Far North and Southwest regions. In those regions, Prudhoe Bay recorded a mean of 8.2 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal) and Unalaska at 40.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Fahrenheit above normal). Precipitation totals were well below normal for much of Alaska with multiple locations tying driest November records at 0 inches. The stations that tied their driest November at 0 inches include Prudhoe Bay (0.33 inches below normal), Bettles (1.15 inches below normal), Tanana (0.56 inches below normal), and Northway (0.51 inches below normal). Some other stations that reported below normal precipitation were St. Paul at 0.92 inches (2.05 inches below normal), Petersburg at 4.45 inches (7.83 inches below normal), and Kenai at 0.11 inches (1.3 inches below normal). Alaska also remains drought free with no areas even classified as abnormally dry (D0).
Hawaii Summary
Temperatures remained around normal for the islands of Hawaii in November. Precpitation totals were also normal for all but Maui Island where they saw below normal totals in Kahului at 0.17 inches (1.64 inches below normal). A return to more normal precipitation totals compared to October allowed for Hawaii to see a large reprieve in drought conditions with only 19 percent of the state now being under drought at the end of November, a 34 percent decrease from last month. All islands still have some locations under D1 (moderate drought) and a few new small areas degraded to D3 (extreme drought) in southwest Molokai and southwest Maui with southwest Kauai remaining in D3 conditions from last month.
Notable Weather
Strong AR4 atmospheric river brings heavy rainfall to northern California: On November 19th, a strong atmospherir river impacted the Pacific Northwest with the strongest impacts felt in northern California on the 22nd causing landslides and flooding. The same system also knocked out power in Seattle for a few days and killed two people. Santa Rosa saw a record 12.5 inches of rainfall fall over three days. The atmospheric river also brought strong winds to the affected regions with a 128 mile per hour wind gust being reported at the Palisades Tahoe ski resort and 86 mile per hour gusts being reported at Mount Rose. These winds also caused extensive issues with many toppled trees, downed lines, and damage to homes and vehicles.
For more information, please go to the Western Regional Climate Center Home Page.