The First Flakes of the Season in November

December 14, 2023 // Article by: Steven Weinstein

The month of November gave many across the Northeast their first freeze of the year, officially ending the growing season. Additionally, despite a quiet start for most, the second half of the month featured a multitude of systems. This resulted in many seeing their first flakes of the year, and for some, even their first measurable snowfall. Given the slow start to November all climate sites ran a bit below average precipitation wise, and although it was a roller coaster ride with regards to temperatures throughout the month, most areas finished on a seasonable note to at most a degree or two below normal.

The start of November began with many climate sites running 7 - 15 degrees below normal and although much of the first week was generally pretty quiet weather wise, there was a weak coastal disturbance during the first few days of the month which brought some light rain to portions of the east coast. However, temperatures were also just cold enough that some wet snow was able to be the predominant precip type across the the higher terrain areas of the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts and Northwestern Connecticut where a few inches of snow fell.  The first few days of the month also featured a widespread freeze across New England and the Mid Atlantic which all but ended the growing season.

Tweet from NWS Boston showing frost at their office during the morning of November 2nd, 2023.

The following week then brought the first real wintry event of the season for parts of Interior New England into the early morning of the 9th and while this resulted in some light and unimpactful mixed rain / sleet showers for most, parts of Southern New Hampshire did change over to a bit of wet snow where coatings to around 1" of snow was recorded. Otherwise, outside of a few rain showers over the coming days in the Mid Atlantic the next disturbance passed through New England on the 13th bringing some evening / overnight mixed showers to much of the region. While most snow accumulations were confined to the higher terrain areas of the Berkshires and across Vermont and New Hampshire, snow showers into Worcester County MA gave many their first measurable snowfall on the season where coatings to a 0.5" fell. Patchy icing also occurred elsewhere into the morning of the 14th before drier weather settled in over the coming days as high pressure built in.

Additionally, temperatures briefly trended warmer into the second week of the month with daily record highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s set at various climate sites on either the 7th or 9th. However, this was short lived as the rest of the month would go on to feature numerous temperature fluctuations. The exception to this was in New England where highs and lows generally ran a few degrees to around 10 degrees below normal into the mid month. The next impactful event then came in the form of a potent system on the 21st - 22nd which brought gusty winds, spotty coastal flooding, and a swath of heavy rainfall along the I-95 corridor where as much as 2-3" of rain fell. It was enough to set daily rainfall records at LaGuardia and Islip NY as well as Bridgeport CT on the 22nd. Meanwhile, further northward precipitation began as some snow with a few inches falling across the higher terrain areas of Interior New England. The highest snowfall amounts were found into Vermont and New Hampshire though as much as 4-5" was notable just north of the Capital District region! Otherwise, much drier weather then settled in for the Thanksgiving holiday and despite the various ups and downs with regards to temperatures, it was into and during the last week of the month that all Northeast climate sites trended unseasonably cool again with temperatures running 5 to 15 degrees below average.

Tweet from NWS Boston depicting a snowy scene in Fitchburg MA during the night of November 21st, 2023.

A rain maker on the 26th - 27th then brought rainfall totals of 1"+ across parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the Hudson Valley as we began the final week of meteorological fall. This was promptly followed up by an event on the 28th which saw scattered snow showers trickle in to much of the Northeast, giving many near and along the 95 corridor their first flakes of the season! Scattered dustings to a couple tenths were recorded for many areas across New England and New Jersey / Pennsylvania from this activity. Moreover, it was during the night of the 29th where daily record lows in the upper teens to the mid 20s were set across many New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Mid Atlantic climate sites.

Video retweeted by NWS Mt Holly showing snowflakes flying in Philadelphia PA within snow showers on November 28th, 2023.

Overall, despite the numerous temperature swings throughout the month, highs and lows generally ran near average to a degree or two below average. Meanwhile, precipitation amounts finished a bit below normal across all Northeast climate sites. For most it was not by much, typically on the order of 0.5 - 1" below normal, though those in New England saw anomalies run 1.5 - 2" below average. As such, many areas across the Mid Atlantic are running abnormally dry or are now in a moderate drought, with some locations also running abnormally dry into New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

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