After 38 years at Rutgers University, Professor Dave Robinson stepped down as New Jersey’s state climatologist on June 30, closing out a career that made him the longest-serving state climatologist in the nation’s history.
The Tenafly native took the post in 1991 and became the go-to voice for understanding the state’s weather, from Superstorm Sandy to the steady rise in temperatures that has made New Jersey one of the fastest-warming states in the country.
A Career Shaped by Storms
Robinson traced his fascination with weather back to childhood, recalling vivid memories of Hurricane Donna during his first week of kindergarten in 1960.
That early spark eventually led him to run a network of 70 monitoring stations across New Jersey, each logging conditions every five minutes, alongside historical climate records stretching back a century and a half.
Of all the storms he studied over the decades, Robinson said Sandy stood out above the rest. He described it as a defining moment that reshaped the state’s economy, environment, and even how he taught his university courses.
Warming Trends and What Comes Next
Looking ahead, Robinson pointed to a few key shifts New Jersey residents should expect:
- Warmer average temperatures are continuing across the state and globally
- Heavier rainfall concentrated in fewer, more intense events
- Coastal storms drawing strength from warmer ocean waters
- Continued sea level rise tied to melting ice sheets and glaciers
He credited the state Department of Environmental Protection for tightening development restrictions in flood-prone coastal areas, though he acknowledged the changes have drawn pushback from businesses.
Heat Wave Arrives Right on Cue
Robinson’s exit comes as New Jersey heads into a brutal stretch of summer heat. Temperatures hit 91 degrees Wednesday, kicking off what forecasters expect to be a record-breaking week.
Thursday could reach as high as 104 degrees, which would shatter the 1966 record of 102. Friday is expected to stay in triple digits as well, just short of that year’s 105-degree mark.
Meteorologists are urging residents to take precautions during the extended heat spell, including:
- Drinking extra water and eating foods with high water content
- Avoiding alcohol and limiting caffeine while outdoors
- Seeking air conditioning or water to cool off during peak hours
Isolated severe thunderstorms remain possible through the holiday weekend, with better chances for wider storm coverage expected around the Fourth of July.
