Why Did NJ Have Such Cold Temps in March This Year?

The temperatures New Jersey experienced this year during March were certainly colder than those of last year. 

Historical Averages and Data

Average March temperatures in New Jersey were about 40 degrees, give or take a couple degrees.

Last year, New Jersey had an average temperature of 49.8 degrees and was the warmest March on record, in 2011 March had an average temperature of 41.3 degrees and 2010 had an average temperature of 45.9 degrees.

In fact, dating back to 1997 New Jersey had an average temperature of below 40 only twice, in 2001 and in 2005.

New Brunswick, New Jersey

Last month, New Brunswick, New Jersey broke 50 degrees for only 11 days. Of those 11 days, only 2 days broke 60 degrees.  Thirteen days were below 45 degrees. And we had a cumulative temperature departure of -45 degrees. We also saw 5.4 inches of snow in the month of March.

Comparing this to 2012: New Brunswick broke 50 degrees 23 days. Of those 23 days, 15 days broke 60 degrees. To go even further, 8 of those 15 days broke 70 degrees.

Only 2 days were below 45 degrees. There was a cumulative temperature departure of +276 degrees. There was 0 inches of snow that month, and only 7 inches of snow during the 2012 winter season.

Cause of Cold Temperatures?

“A stationary mass of warm air over Greenland and the North Atlantic has blocked the normal flow of air from west to east and south to north,” according to Greg Carbin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.

This mass of warm air has redirected air currents and created a pattern of winds coming from the Northwest. This gives the eastern portions of the United States cold Arctic air.