Warm and Wet Autumn...

During the months of September, October, and November of 2004, Pennsylvania experienced one of the wettest autumns on record. During this time, the state received roughly 16 inches of precipitation. The only other year to receive the same total was 1996. Other years that received amounts similar to this value have been 1997, 1993, 1985, 1975 and 1945. The remnants of hurricanes that traveled across Pennsylvania during September brought most of the rain, but also a mild beginning to the winter season also contributed to the very wet conditions.

When we compare the exceptionally wet autumn with its rather mild temperatures, the following years had similar conditions during the autumn months: 2001, 1998, 1975, 1968, 1962, 1953, and 1952. These years were followed by springs (March-May) with the following characteristics (see maps attached): Milder than normal from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast and generally very dry in the western half of the nation.