Philadelphia, PA – An unusually active weather day across parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey led to multiple climate records being tied or broken, highlighting just how abnormal conditions were for mid-December.
According to the National Weather Service in Philadelphia/Mount Holly, several climate sites reported either record high temperatures or record-breaking rainfall on Friday, December 19.
In eastern Pennsylvania and coastal New Jersey, record high temperatures were tied. Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, both reached 59 degrees, matching their previous daily records for the date. Normal highs for this time of year are typically much colder, making the warmth particularly notable.
Meanwhile, heavier rainfall led to new daily precipitation records at other locations. Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, recorded 1.79 inches of rain, breaking the previous daily record of 1.63 inches set in 1957. Trenton, New Jersey, also set a new rainfall record, measuring 1.26 inches, surpassing the old record of 1.20 inches that had stood since 1865.
Forecasters described the day’s conditions as “whacky,” with an unusual combination of warmth and heavy rain driven by a strong storm system moving through the Mid-Atlantic. The rain contributed to localized ponding in low-lying areas, while the warm air pushed temperatures well above seasonal norms.
The National Weather Service notes that while records are not broken every day, the combination of tied temperature records and broken rainfall records underscores a highly anomalous weather pattern for December.
Residents are encouraged to stay weather-aware as conditions continue to fluctuate heading into the holiday week, with additional systems possible and temperatures remaining above average.
