2019 is winding down and what an interesting year it has been weather-wise. Let’s talk about the big weather stories from this year but also some long-term trends.

The top 3 weather stories for our area:

#1: SEVERE FLOODING IN LATE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER

This was an easy choice. For the second consecutive year, flash flooding led to huge problems in parts of our area, including the 224 corridor in Mahoning County. We also had massive problems in the Kinsman area. Mercer County was water-logged for much of late May and June.

#2: FOUR TORNADOES THIS YEAR

Our primary “viewing area” (Columbiana, Mahoning, Trumbull, Mercer counties) had it’s fair share of severe weather this year, including 4 confirmed tornadoes. 2 of these occurred in early JANUARY, a VERY unusual time of the year for tornadoes around here. Late in the morning on January 8, an EF1 tornado crossed parts of Trumbull County, including the Cortland area.

Another twister occurred in NE Mercer County, around New Lebanon. That tornado was also rated as an EF1.

During the much more “typical” severe weather season of late spring and early summer, a pair of EF1 tornadoes impacted the southern half of Trumbull County. There was substantial tree damage in some places.

#3: IT WAS ANOTHER VERY WARM YEAR

The Valley had it’s 4th consecutive very warm year in 2019. Only 2 months were cooler-than-average: March and November.

There were only a handful of true cold snaps: one in very late January, one in early/mid March and one in mid-November.

It was CONSISTENTLY warm in 2019 but we did not set that many daily records. No surprise but over the last 10 years record highs far outnumber record lows.

It was a very warm summer but once again the thermometer had a hard time getting above the lower 90s. It hit 91 six times. At the YNG airport it has not been warmer than 92 since 2012

Fewer 90 degree days in 2019 when compared to the previous year.

Remarkably, 1/2 of this decade is on the list of 20 warmest years on record in Youngstown.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Some weather stories were noteworthy but didn’t make the list. Including:

-Late January cold snap, then rapid thaw: Highs in single digits, lows below zero on January 30, 31….high of 61 on February 4!

-Searing midsummer heat: It was a July on par with July 2011 and 2012…a few of the hottest Julys since the 1930s, 1940s and 1955. 7 days with highs in the lower 90s.

2019: The Year In Weather In The Youngstown Area