What To Know
- abundant at high altitudes in the Rockies yet severely deficient at lower elevations in both the Rockies and Appalachians—a typical observation of climate change effects.
- The least sunny year in three decadesWith such a parade of rainy disturbances, sunshine became a rare sight.
- One of the hottest years on recordDespite its gloomy feel, 2024 ranks among the five warmest years since temperature records began in 1900.
As 2023 closed with record-breaking droughts and temperatures, many believed they had seen it all. However, the weather in 2024 surprised everyone: meteorologists, climatologists, and the entire global populace.
a year of unprecedented rainfall
If there’s one meteorological event that characterized 2024, it’s the rain. In numerous regions, there was no respite from continuous precipitation throughout the year. Many cities experienced severe flooding.
The statistics are staggering:
- Over 40 inches of average rainfall nationwide
- A surplus of approximately 15%, ranking it among the top ten wettest years since records began
Certain cities shattered their annual rainfall records, including New York and Miami. March and September witnessed particularly exceptional totals.
contrasting snow conditions
The snow cover was notably varied: abundant at high altitudes in the Rockies yet severely deficient at lower elevations in both the Rockies and Appalachians—a typical observation of climate change effects.
ground saturation unseen in decades
After two years of extreme drought (notably in 2022), 2024 flipped the script with waterlogged soils unable to absorb any additional precipitation. For eight months, soil moisture levels exceeded norms, a phenomenon not observed for over thirty years.
- This was particularly evident across a vast stretch from California to New England.
the least sunny year in three decades
With such a parade of rainy disturbances, sunshine became a rare sight. Statistically speaking, 2024 truly was the gloomiest year in three decades. Sunshine deficits were recorded almost every month throughout 2024, especially in the northern half of the country.
- The average sunshine hours dipped by around 10%, comparable to historically low levels seen in previous decades.
one of the hottest years on record
Despite its gloomy feel, 2024 ranks among the five warmest years since temperature records began in 1900. The provisional average temperature was about 57°F with an anomaly of +1°F compared to the norm from 1991-2020.
- February stood out as it was the second warmest February on record nationwide behind only February 1990.
global implications and factors
Globally, it’s anticipated that 2024 could become the new hottest year on record, surpassing even the previous year’s record. Several phenomena have influenced this year’s weather patterns:
- The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation—natural localized temperature variations affecting climate over oceans and landmasses like North America.
The ongoing influence of climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions played a role not only in temperature levels but also increased rainfall abundance.
El Niño might have contributed too; however, its influence over North American weather remains uncertain at best.
