You were right – it WAS a cold winter

Meteorological Winter is defined as the time period between December 1 and the end of February. The Meteorological Winter of 2009/2010 will go down as one of the coldest on record for Southeast North Carolina.

It was characterized primarily by well below normal temperatures across the area and above average precipitation. What was interesting about this winter is that there were very few daily record cold temperatures set at any of the climate stations. The cold was more impressive for its duration than its intensity and that is what makes the 2009/2010 winter so memorable.

Three major events will be remembered from this winter, the record cold during the beginning of January, the abnormally cold entire month of February and the biggest and most widespread snowstorm to affect the area since 2000.

At Wilmington, NC:

Month Avg T Avg Low Precip

December 47.7/-1.2 38.1/-0.0 8.86/+5.08
January 41.3/-4.8 31.9/-4.8 3.42/-0.99
February 41.9/-6.6 31.2/-6.3 4.23/+0.57
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Winter 43.6/-4.3 33.7/-3.4 16.51/+4.66

Wilmington has a period of record of 136 years:
for January, the 41.3 degree average ranks as the 13th coldest.
for February, the 41.9 degree average ranks as the 9th coldest.

For the djf period, the 43.6 degree average makes it the 10th coldest winter ever at Wilmington!

Other statistical notes about the winter:
Jan/Feb both averaged less than 32 for monthly low temperatures. On record, this is only the 5th time that both months have averaged below freezing during the same winter. (last done in 1978).

Jan/Feb both also had monthly average temperatures below 42 degrees. This is only the 3rd time on record that both months averaged this cold in the same winter. (1958, 1978)

Wilmington saw 54 days between December 1 and February 28 with a high temperature of 55 degrees or less, 55 degrees is the coldest average high temperature during the winter. this 54 is the 3rd highest total on record and 17 above the average of 37 in any given winter.

There were 48 days when Wilmington had a low temperature below freezing. This is the 8th greatest number of days on record, and 15 above the average of 33 days per winter. what is more impressive about this is that Wilmington did not officially hit freezing until December 12th…which was the 8th latest date for a first freeze!

Of course, Wilmington also saw a snowstorm this winter. The 3.8 inches of snow that fell on February 12th/13th was the greatest single event since 5.0 inches fell on January 25th/26th of 2000.

INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE LOCATED IN WILMINGTON.