November 2002 Weather Summary

November started out a little wet for most of the Commonwealth, especially the Western half, as traces of precipitation were noticed from Friday, November 1st through Friday, November 8th! This is unusual for Pennsylvania, as was the relatively warm temperatures that were occurring. These abnormal conditions were a result of several Canadian low-pressure systems that lingered for the 8-day period.

There was, finally, a completely dry day on the 9th, although a strong low-pressure system crept back into the Eastern half of the Country. The rain and low-pressure didn't sway temperatures much though and the rain moved out of Pennsylvania by late Wednesday, November 13th. Unfortunately there wasn't a long period of "dry," as rain returned on Saturday from another trough out of the Rocky Mountains.

The third week of November returned temperatures to a more seasonable level, with a well-developed low coming through Pennsylvania on Tuesday, November 19th. This, just after some rain fell from a Canadian low, allowed there to be another set of rainy days. By Thursday, November 21st, the Commonwealth had returned to a drier period and temperatures were again relatively warm for mid-November.

The weather became very interesting on Monday, November 25th, with a well-developed low-pressure system over the Northeast, a weaker high-pressure system over the Plains, and a second, relatively strong low-pressure system over Montana/North Dakota. The low-pressure form the Northeast lead to some rain and plunging temperatures with the passage of a well-organized cold front on Tuesday, and rain continued to fall as the remaining high and low pressure systems battled to become stronger. Finally, the low-pressure that sat over Montana/North Dakota strengthened significantly and temperatures plummeted, making winter a reality. The cold pressure associated with that significant low, passed through Pennsylvania on the last day of the month, and temperatures began to return to near normal.