Weird Weather

Photo Credit: NorCast Weather

By Emma Stepnowski

The abnormality in New Jersey's weather can be seen as ambiguous and, in some cases, a phenomenon. Especially due to the recent change in seasons, there is some conflicting weather to be seen. The New Jersey winter of 2022-2023 recorded its second mildest winter on record. Rutgers University reported that “abnormal conditions were seemingly the norm across the Garden State,” wrote Professor David Robinson. The total snowfall for this winter season was dreary, with a total average of three inches of snow, which was 17 inches below normal. It is recorded to be the second-lowest snowfall total since the winter of 1918–1919. Although the majority of people enjoyed the warmer winter, there were downsides to it. According to Robinson, the warmer temperatures have disrupted the natural order of plants and animals, which will cause insects to live longer and cause more damage to fruit trees and other plants.

Although the beginning of the spring season was off to a chilly start, the rest of spring will be slightly warmer than normal in New Jersey, according to the outlook of the National Weather Service. During the beginning of the spring season, the NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) claims that the end of the La Nina weather pattern, which occurs when the sea surface temperature is cooler, plays a role in the rapid appearance of storm patterns and an increase in rain, which should help ease drought situations in those affected states. The La Nina was declared over as of last week, which predicts a neutral pattern in the forecast. This neutral trend in the weather should carry on into the spring as well as the summer. According to New Jersey State Climatologist, David Robinson, if NOAA's outlook on the climate follows through, then it would mark the second straight year with above-average spring temperatures. So going forward into the spring and summer seasons, it seems to be expected to encounter warmer temperatures than average.