Drought watch remains as below-normal rainfall trend continued in November

Rainfall across New Jersey was slightly above average in October and slightly below average in November.

After three straight months of below-average rainfall, New Jersey saw a slight reversal in October but returned to the drier side in November. 

The Garden State saw 2.33 inches of rain last month, which was 1.31 inches below normal, said David Robinson, the state climatologist at Rutgers University. It turned out to be the 41st driest November in more than 120 years.

Overall precipitation during the "meteorological fall" -- the combined calendar months of September, October and November -- was 10.22 inches, which was 1.42 inches below normal and made this the 56th driest autumn in New Jersey, Robinson said.

PLUS: Warmest November in New Jersey history?

A review of data provided by the state climatologist's office shows the Garden State had below-normal precipitation in seven of the first 11 months of 2015: February, April, May, July, August, September and November. (See specific totals in the charts below.)  

The two biggest statistical anomalies of the year so far were May, which saw only 1.12 inches of rain -- nearly 3 inches below normal -- and June, which had a deluge of 8.29 inches of rain, more than 4 inches above normal. Those unusual numbers gave New Jersey its third driest May on record, followed by its fourth wettest June on record, Robinson said.

DROUGHT WATCH CONTINUES

The low-rainfall trend that developed after June and continued into the early autumn prompted state officials to declare a drought watch in 12 of New Jersey's 21 counties, primarily in the northern and central regions. The drought watch, issued in late September, remains in effect.

December got off to a wet start, with light rain and drizzle that lingered for more than two days. But all that moisture didn't amount to huge numbers on the rain gauge. The total rainfall from that dreary weather system ranged from a half-inch to 1 inch in most parts of the state.

Among the towns that ended up with more than an inch from the night of Nov. 30 through the morning of Dec. 3 were Pine Beach (1.39 inches), Ringwood (1.37), Brick Township (1.27), Woodbine (1.23), Estell Manor (1.18), Berkeley Township (1.18), Union Township in Hunterdon (1.17), Stafford Township (1.13), Upper Township (1.12), West Milford (1.12), Point Pleasant Beach (1.10) and Toms River (1.09). 

Those rainfall totals were compiled by weather spotters from the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network. 

Here is another look at the month-by-month precipitation totals across New Jersey so far this year, compared to the average monthly totals. Hover over each month or each point on the lines to see the specific numbers.