February 2024 Summary

The second warmest February on record

With temperatures that ranged from average to well above average, it is not surprising that the overall temperature was close to 5 degrees above average.  This made it the second warmest February in the history of weather records in the region (which go back to 1914) and just a bit less than the record warmest in 2017.

Looking at the meteorological winter (December-January-February), the average temperature was -1.8°C.  This was the third warmest winter only behind 2001-02 and 1931-32.

Even some wet days in the final few days of the month could only bring the total precipitation to about a third of the average (21.6 mm total compared to the average of 63.5 mm).  This was the driest February since 1987.

With the warm temperatures and lack of overall precipitation, it follows that the total snowfall of only 13 cm was well below the average of 30.3 cm for February.  Overall, we have had 59.5 cm during this snowfall season, less than half the average of 125.6 cm for this point in the season.  As well, the gloominess index of 5.9 (on a scale of 10) was just a bit less than the average of 5.7 and much less than the value of 8.3 from last month.

It is also that time of year for the annual Weather Station Contest where you have to guess when the first time the station’s temperature will go above 20°C.  You can get details about the contest and put in your guess here:  https://weather.uwaterloo.ca/2024_contest/contest_entry_period_2024.asp 

Summary for February 2024:

Maximum Temperature 14.1°C
Minimum Temperature -13.0°C
Average Daily High Temperature 3.8°C (Long term average -1.3°C)
Average Daily Low Temperature -6.3°C (Long term average -10.8°C)
Total Precipitation 21.6 mm (Long term average 63.5 mm)

(Long term averages based on 1998-2022 data from the Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo)