PITTSBURGH — The year 2020 started off warm with an average temperature in the month of January of 35.2 degrees. This was 6.8 degrees above average and ranks as the 23rd-warmest January on record for Pittsburgh. The month recorded 4.2 inches of snow.
February also recorded above-average temperatures, and Pittsburgh finished the month with 8.8 inches of snow. Needless to say, there were no issues with ice jams this year.
The above-average temperatures carried into March as the month finished at 45.6 degrees, marking the 15th-warmest March on record for the city. The warmest March on record is 2012 at 51.5 degrees.
Severe weather developed in April, most notably, the night of April 8, when two tornadoes were confirmed. An EF-1 tornado with winds of 100 mph occurred in Tarentum, and a tornado also hit Lower Burrell with 70 mph winds. Fast-moving storms brought high winds and some damage to the area. Pittsburgh International Airport recorded a 75 mph wind gust, which was the fastest thunderstorm wind ever recorded at the site (records dating to 1948).
April also finished the 24th-coolest on record in Pittsburgh with a temperature of 47.6 degrees. Rainfall finished above average with 4.59 inches. Only 0.10 inches of snow was recorded.
May featured below-average temperatures and precipitation with a trace of snow recorded. May began a period of dry weather that would be consistent through the first part of the summer.
Severe weather hit in the summer, with June recording an EF-2 tornado in Beaver. The month finished two inches below average on rainfall.
July was a hot month for Pittsburgh. A heat wave gripped the city, and drought began to take shape across the area. The month finished almost 5 degrees above average on temperatures, marking the eighth-warmest July on record for the city.
The month of August finally brought above-average precipitation to the area. The month recorded 5.57 inches of rain, which was about two inches above average. It was the 16th-wettest August. The top spot goes to 1987, with 7.86 inches of rain.
The rain that proved welcomed in August would vanish in September as a dry pattern set up. The month only recorded 0.92 inches of rain, making it the 14th-driest September on record.
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The dry and sunny days observed through the start of fall led to early fall foliage that produced brilliant colors across our area. October finished with above-average temperatures and above-average precipitation. No snow was recorded.
Lake-effect snow showers dumped on Venango, Butler and Mercer counties in November. Pittsburgh only saw 0.8 inches of snow in the month. November also was a warm month with an average temperature of 46.6 degrees and 3.7 degrees above average. This ties as 16th-warmest on record for Pittsburgh. November 1931 takes the top spot with an average temperature of 51.6 degrees.
The year ended with several snowstorms in the month of December. In fact, 27.5 inches of snow in Pittsburgh in December makes it the second-snowiest December on record. This number is about 19 inches above average. December 2020 is also the seventh-snowiest month ever on record for the Steel City. The snowiest December ever on record for the city is 1890, with 41.8 inches of snow. Records date to 1880.