KENTUCKY MONTHLY AND ANNUAL CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR -- 2001 By: Tom Priddy, Erin Maxwell--UK Agricultural Weather Center * Based on Preliminary Data. Graphs of Kentucky Monthly Temperature and Rainfall available at: http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/climgraphs/ and weekly graphs available within the UKAWC Kentucky Weather Information Web site. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: December 2001 ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL: ...NINTH (9TH) WARMEST DECEMBER IN THE PAST 107 YEARS FOR THE BLUEGRASS STATE... December 2001 will go into the record books as the ninth (9th) warmest December in the past 107 years. Since the middle of October...above normal temperatures had dominated the state...and the first 3 weeks of December were also very mild. But a weather pattern shift during final week allowed bitter cold Arctic air to invade the Ohio Valley. During the warm period, Kentucky had been on track to have the warmest December on record, but that changed quickly on December 24th when the jet stream moved south of the state to near the Gulf of Mexico allowing bitter cold air to dominate most of Central and Eastern U.S. for the remainder of the month. Yet, the warm conditions during the first three weeks of the month was enough to rank the month as the 9th warmest. Precipitation was plentiful during the first three weeks...especially in the West, Central and Bluegrass areas but diminished during the final week. Most of the state was wet according the Palmer Drought and Crop Moisture Indices of Dec. 30th. Snowfall occurred on December 25th in the form of flurries but accumulated to near an inch across the Central and Eastern sections of the state on the 28/29th. Temperatures for December 2001 averaged 42.1 degrees across the state which was 5.1 degrees ABOVE NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 49 in the West to 51 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 7 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 33 degrees in the West to 34 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 11 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Extreme high temperatures were in the low to mid 70's on the 5th of the month and extreme low temperatures were in the single digits on the 30/31st of December. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 4.77 inches statewide which was 0.50 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 6.67 inches, Central 5.04 inches, Bluegrass 3.90 inches and East 3.71 inches, which was +2.06, +0.25, -0.07 and -0.13 inches respectively from normal. By Kentucky weather station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.52 inches at Grayson to a high of 8.67 inches at Paducah. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: November 2001 ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL: ...5TH WARMEST NOVEMBER IN THE PAST 107 YEARS... November 2001 will go into the record books as the 5th warmest and the 31st wettest November in the past 107 years. Most of the month was dry, however, the final week was very wet for the West, Central and Bluegrass areas. The Eastern section of the state ended the month with below normal rainfall as it did during October. Temperatures for November 2001 averaged 51.4 degrees across the state which was 4.8 degrees ABOVE NORMAL but 4.5 degrees cooler than October 2001. High temperatures averaged from 64 in the West to 66 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 5 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 10 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 40 degrees in the West to 40 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 6 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Rainfall for the month totaled 4.19 inches statewide which was 0.21 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 7.43 inches, Central 5.02 inches, Bluegrass 3.62 inches and East 2.25 inches, which was +3.01, +0.74, -0.04 and -1.40 inches respectively from normal which was 168 percent of normal for the West, 117 percent for Central, 99 percent for the Bluegrass and 62 percent of normal for East KY or 111 percent of normal rainfall for the state as a whole. By Kentucky weather station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.82 inches at Jackson to a high of 7.82 inches at Princeton. Kentucky November 2001 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 52.2 48.1 4.2 7.43 4.42 3.01 168 2 51.8 47.3 4.5 5.02 4.29 0.74 117 3 51.7 46.2 5.5 3.62 3.66 -0.04 99 4 50.6 46.2 4.4 2.25 3.65 -1.40 62 State 51.5 46.9 4.6 4.43 3.98 0.45 111 Temperature(F) ranking for Kentucky for November through November Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1931 53.7| 2 1909 53.6| 3 1985 53.2| 4 1902 52.3| 5 2001* 51.5| 6 1999 51.4| 7 1994 51.0| 8 1927t 50.2| 8 1946t 50.2| 10 1990 49.8| 11 1987 49.5| 12 1913 49.4| 13 1978 49.3| 14 1934 49.2| 15 1964 49.0| 16 1948t 48.9| 16 1975t 48.9| 18 1973 48.8| 19 1899t 48.7| 19 1915t 48.7| 19 1921t 48.7| 22 1942 48.6| 23 1998 48.5| 24 1977 48.3| 25 1896 48.2| 26 1982 48.1| 27 1965 48.0| 28 1958 47.8| 29 1908 47.5| 30 1922 47.2| 31 1945t 47.1| 31 1988t 47.1| 33 1983 47.0| 34 1963t 46.8| 34 1981t 46.8| 36 1897t 46.7| 36 1916t 46.7| 36 1966t 46.7| 36 1974t 46.7| 40 1924t 46.6| 40 1938t 46.6| 42 1935 46.5| 43 1919t 46.3| 43 1971t 46.3| 45 1961t 46.2| 45 1968t 46.2| 47 1979 46.1| 48 1930t 46.0| 48 1986t 46.0| 48 1989t 46.0| 48 1992t 46.0| 52 1900 45.9| 53 1914t 45.8| 53 1957t 45.8| 53 1960t 45.8| 56 1928 45.7| 57 1952 45.4| 58 1905t 45.3| 58 1923t 45.3| 58 1944t 45.3| 61 1970 45.2| 62 1906t 45.0| 62 1918t 45.0| 64 1941 44.9| 65 1940t 44.8| 65 1993t 44.8| 67 1895t 44.7| 67 1953t 44.7| 69 1949 44.6| 70 1956 44.5| 71 1933t 44.3| 71 1954t 44.3| 73 1962t 44.2| 73 2000t 44.2| 75 1912t 44.1| 75 1980t 44.1| 77 1991 43.9| 78 1925 43.8| 79 1972 43.7| 80 1904t 43.6| 80 1920t 43.6| 80 1947t 43.6| 83 1929t 43.5| 83 1943t 43.5| 85 1955t 43.3| 85 1984t 43.3| 87 1907t 43.1| 87 1917t 43.1| 89 1959 42.8| 90 1932 42.7| 91 1997 42.5| 92 1939t 42.3| 92 1969t 42.3| 94 1898t 42.1| 94 1937t 42.1| 96 1936 41.9| 97 1926 41.8| 98 1967 41.7| 99 1903 41.4|100 1996 41.0| 101 1995 40.8|102 1901 40.7|103 1911 40.5|104 1950 40.2|105 1910 40.0| 106 1951 39.6|107 1976 37.9| t means a tie Precipitation(in) ranking for Kentucky for November through November Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1921 8.79| 2 1900 8.60| 3 1957 8.13| 4 1919 8.08| 5 1973 7.88| 6 1948 7.75| 7 1988 7.62| 8 1986 6.89| 9 1951 6.86| 10 1984 6.41| 11 1925t 5.67| 11 1985t 5.67| 13 1979 5.64| 14 1945 5.63| 15 1906 5.55| 16 1896t 5.54| 16 1927t 5.54| 18 1972 5.36| 19 1915 5.31| 20 1996 5.24| 21 1950 5.21| 22 1897 5.19| 23 1983 5.16| 24 1977 5.06| 25 1911 4.99| 26 1902 4.89| 27 1978 4.81| 28 1895 4.73| 29 1942 4.68| 30 1929 4.46| 31 2001* 4.43| 32 1993 4.42| 33 1982 4.36| 34 1928 4.35| 35 1967 4.12| 36 1959 4.05| 37 1923 4.04| 38 1935 3.98| 39 1938t 3.95| 39 1966t 3.95| 41 1961 3.94| 42 1905 3.93| 43 1907 3.86| 44 1926t 3.76| 44 1992t 3.76| 46 1968 3.67| 47 1913t 3.59| 47 1940t 3.59| 49 1969t 3.56| 49 1980t 3.56| 51 1964 3.54| 52 1989 3.53| 53 1931 3.52| 54 1946 3.42| 55 1995 3.41| 56 1936 3.40| 57 1958 3.39| 58 1987t 3.35| 58 1994t 3.35| 60 1903 3.33| 61 1997 3.32| 62 1952 3.28| 63 1975 3.26| 64 1960 3.25| 65 1962 3.21| 66 1974 3.15| 67 1898 3.09| 68 1990 2.93| 69 2000 2.92| 70 1908 2.89| 71 1947 2.87| 72 1941 2.69| 73 1934 2.67| 74 1955 2.63| 75 1944 2.56| 76 1932t 2.54| 76 1991t 2.54| 78 1909 2.53| 79 1970 2.45| 80 1920t 2.44| 80 1963t 2.44| 82 1899 2.34| 83 1999 2.33| 84 1956 2.31| 85 1910 2.26| 86 1922 2.13| 87 1918 2.10| 88 1998 2.06| 89 1971 2.03| 90 1924t 2.01| 90 1930t 2.01| 92 1954 1.89| 93 1965t 1.82| 93 1981t 1.82| 95 1949 1.74| 96 1937 1.71| 97 1901t 1.68| 97 1916t 1.68| 99 1933 1.57|100 1943 1.52| 101 1953 1.48|102 1914t 1.36|102 1917t 1.36|104 1912 1.35|105 1939 1.18| 106 1904 0.98|107 1976 0.85| t means a tie ---- Kentucky Climate Summary: October 2001 BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL: Weather for October 2001 will go into the record books as the 7th wettest October and the 29th coolest October in the past 107 years. What typically is the driest month of the year was very wet...especially for the West, Central and Bluegrass areas of the state. Severe weather was limited to the final week (Oct 24/25) of the month with gusty winds in excess of 50 mph causing damage in the form of trees and powerlines down and damaged barns. Wind damage was reported by over 60 counties. Jefferson County reported over 100 powerlines down and over 11,000 residents without power. Scattered frost was reported each week throughout October...but the growing season didn't come to an end statewide until Oct 28/29th when modified Arctic air drop low temperatures into the low to mid 20's (F) across the state. Temperatures for October 2001 averaged 56 degrees across the state which was 1 degree BELOW NORMAL and 10 degrees cooler than the previous month. High temperatures averaged from 70 in the West to 69 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from -1 degree from normal in the West to +1 degree from normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 46 degrees in the West to 43 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from -2 degrees from normal in the West to -2 degrees from normal in the East. Since April 1st, Growing Degree Day accumulations for corn ranged from 3750 in Northeast sections to 4300 CGDD's in Western Kentucky which was 105 percent of normal. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for October 2001 totaled 4.35 inches statewide which was 1.41 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 6.54 inches, Central 5.30 inches, Bluegrass 4.56 inches and East 2.08 inches, which was +3.49, +2.38, +1.79 and -0.91 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.36 inches at Jackson to a high of 9.79 inches at Henderson. Snowfall was limited to the final week of the month with light snow/flurries reported in the higher elevations of Eastern Kentucky. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: For September 2001 DRY AND COOL: Temperatures for September 2001 averaged 66 degrees across the state which was 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL and 10 degrees cooler than August 2001. High temperatures averaged from 80 degrees in the West to 77 degrees in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degree BELOW NORMAL in the West to 0 degrees from normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 56 degrees in the West to 55 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 0 degrees from normal in the East. Extreme high temperatures occurred at the beginning of the month in the upper 80's to low 90's (Paduach 91 on Sept. 5). Extreme lows at the end of the month approached record and near-record low temperature conditions with some areas reaching as low as 34 degrees and scattered frost was reported. Since April 1st, corn growing degree day (Base 50 mod.) accumulations ranged from 3450 (103 percent of normal) in Northeast sections to 3950 (107 percent of normal) CGDD's in Southwest sections of the Bluegrass state. Western KY (Paducah NWS) reported 25 days with fog...Eastern KY (Jackson NWS) reported 15 days with fog. Rainfall for the month totaled 2.31 inches statewide which was 1.26 inches BELOW NORMAL which was about 70 percent of normal rainfall. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 2.90 inches, Central 2.89 inches, Bluegrass 2.03 inches and East 1.73 inches, which was 0.60, 0.75, 1.28 and 1.62 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.06 inches at Williamstown to a high of 3.90 inches at Paducah. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: August 2001 Above Normal Temperatuers and Below Normal Rainfall: Temperatures for the period averaged 76.5 degrees across the state which was 1.8 degrees ABOVE NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 88 in the West to 85 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 0 degrees from normal in the West to +1 degrees from normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 68 degrees in the West to 66 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from +4 degrees from normal in the West to +4 degrees from normal in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 3.63 inches statewide which was 0.12 inches BELOW NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 4.51 inches, Central 5.28 inches, Bluegrass 3.669 inches and East 4.25 inches, which was +0.98, +1.53, -0.20 and +0.40 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.85 inches at Cape Girardeau to a high of 5.96 inches at Bowling Green. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: July 2001 Near Normal Temperatures and Above Normal Rainfall: Temperatures for the period averaged 76 degrees across the state which was NEAR NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 89 in the West to 84 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from -1 degrees from normal in the West to -2 degrees from normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 68 degrees in the West to 65 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from +2 degrees from normal in the West to +0 degrees from normal in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 6.22 inches statewide which was 1.54 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 4.84 inches, Central 5.34 inches, Bluegrass 7.64 inches and East 6.87 inches, which was +0.65, +0.45, +2.82 and +2.06 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.77 inches at Nashville to a high of 10.72 inches at Cape Girardeau. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: June 2001 BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL: Warm, muggy conditions occurred during June of 2001, but the majority of the days were cool with the 1st, 3rd and final weeks withg below normal weekly temperatures. June will go into the record books as the 19th coolest June in the past 107 years. Rainfall was a different story with only the 1st full week and 3rd week having above normal rainfall. The remainder of the month was rather dry such that field activities were able to rapidly advance. Not much change in the Palmer Drought Severity and Crop Moisture Indices throughout the month. By the end of the month, West KY continued in SEVERE hydrological drought category, Central and Bluegrass areas continued in MODERATE hydrological drought category; and East KY continued in MILD hydrological drought. Rainfall needed above normal to end the hydrological drought: West 10.13 inches, Central 6.42 inches, Bluegrass 5.00 inches and East 2.12 inches. According to the Crop Moisture Index, TOPSOIL MOISTURE WAS SHORT in West, Central and Bluegrass KY. For East KY soil moisture was in the FAVORABLE FOR NORMAL GROWTH AND FIELDWORK. A tornado moved through Southeastern counties causing serious damage during the second week of June...otherwise severe weather for June 2001 was limited. Temperatures for June 2001 averaged 71.3 degrees across the state which was 1.7 degree BELOW normal, 6 degrees warmer than May 2001 and 1 degree cooler than June 2000. High temperatures averaged from 84 in the West to 81 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 3 degrees BELOW normal in the West to 2 degrees BELOW normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 62 degrees in the West to 60 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 1 degree BELOW normal in the West to 2 degrees BELOW normal in the East. Corn growing degree day accumulations (Base 50 mod.) by climate division ranged from 678 CGDD's in the West to 601 CGDD's in the East which was 10 to 20 CGDD's below normal (about 98 percent of normal). Since April 1st, the state had received about 110 percent of normal CGDD's. Rainfall for June 2001 totaled 3.99 inches statewide which was 0.07 inches ABOVE normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.91 inches, Central 4.99 inches, Bluegrass 3.78 inches and East 5.01 inches, which was +0.14, +0.94, -0.06 and +1.09 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.04 inches at Spindletop to a high of 7.07 inches at London. Since April 2001, the state had received 11.43 inches, or 89 percent of normal. But Western sections of the state were nearly 6 inches below normal since April 1st and over 10 inches below normal since Jan. 1st. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: May 2001 ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL: Offsetting warm temperatures and dry conditions during the first half of May 2001 and unseasonably cool temperatures and wet conditions during the latter half of the month made for a very difficult month for agricultural operations across the Bluegrass state. The month started and ended with Central, Bluegrass and East in MODERATE hydrologic drought and West in SEVERE hydrologic drought. The state also started the month in agricultural drought but ended the month with adequate soil moisture for agricultural purposes...with Central and Bluegrass areas ABNORMAL WET for agricultural purposes. Unlike the majority of the state, this was the 3rd straight month for BELOW NORMAL rainfall for West, KY climate zone. Temperatures for May 2001 averaged 66.3 degrees across the state which was 1.9 degrees ABOVE NORMAL and 6 degrees warmer than the previous month. High temperatures averaged from 80 in the West to 77 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degree BELOW NORMAL in the West to 1 degree ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 57 degrees in the West to 54 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperatures ranged from 1 degree ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 1 degree BELOW NORMAL in the East. Rainfall for May 2001 totaled 4.60 inches statewide which was 0.10 inches BELOW NORMAL. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.81 inches, Central 5.44 inches, Bluegrass 5.23 inches and East 5.04 inches, which was -0.88, 0.40, 0.53 and 0.59 inches respectively from normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 2.37 inches at Mayfield to an estimated high of 7.56 inches at Grayson. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: April 2001* SEVENTH (7TH) WARMEST, TENTH (10TH) DRIEST APRIL FOR KENTUCKY IN 107 YEARS: April 2001 for Kentucky was a dry month, receiving only 48 percent of normal rainfall. When combined with the rainfall received during March, Kentucky started the growing season with 8 consecutive weeks of below normal rainfall and only 57 percent or normal rainfall for March and April 2001 combined. As far as ranking, rainfall for April 2001 was the 10th lowest in the previous 107 years of weather records. For temperature, April 2001 was the 7th warmest April in the past 107 years. By the end of April the Palmer Drought Severity Index indicated Western KY had plunged into SEVERE hydrologic drought category, Central and Bluegrass areas were in the deepest levels of MODERATE hydrologic drought, and Eastern KY had joined Central and Bluegrass areas in MODERATE hydrologic drought. The Crop Moisture Index indicated TOPSOIL MOISTURE SHORT... GERMINATION SLOW for agricultural purposes. (One comment here...when the PDSI/CMI model was last run...CPC/NCEP stated that 3 days of rainfall data was not included in the run.) Temperatures for April 2001 averaged 60 degrees across the state which was 4.1 degrees ABOVE NORMAL, 18 degrees warmer than March and 5 degrees warmer than April 2000. High temperatures averaged from 74 in the West to 72 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 7 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 52 degrees in the West to 48 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 5 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Record or near-record breaking high temperatures occurred on the 7th of the month with readings in the mid to upper 80's. Near-record low temperatures occurred on the 17th and 18th or the month with lows in the mid to upper 20's. The warm temperatures for April also accumulated Corn Growing Degree Day which ranged from 377 in the East to 449 in West KY which was 33 percent ABOVE NORMAL for the state. Rainfall for April 2001 totaled 1.99 inches statewide which was 2.26 inches BELOW NORMAL. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 2.44 inches, Central 2.57 inches, Bluegrass 1.52 inches and East 1.62 inches, which was 2.22, 1.86, 2.62 and 2.29 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.04 inches at Louisville to a high of 2.53 inches at Glasgow, KY. Precipitation(in) ranking for Kentucky for April through April Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1915 0.91| 2 1976 1.12| 3 1930 1.24| 4 1906 1.32| 5 1986 1.45| 6 1896 1.56| 7 1963 1.75| 8 1960 1.92| 9 1992 1.96| 10 2001* 1.99| --- Kentucky Climate Summary: March 2001 COOL WITH BELOW NORMAL PRECIPIATION: March 2001 started out as a lamb but turned out to be cold with very little snow or severe weather for the month. Temperatures for the March 2001 averaged 41 degrees across the state which was 5 degrees BELOW NORMAL. This compared to about the same temperature for February 2001 but 8 degrees cooler than March 2000 ranking March 2001 as the 18th coldest March in the past 106 years. High temperatures averaged from 53 in the West to 52 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 7 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 33 degrees in the West to 33 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 3 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 1 degree BELOW NORMAL in the East. Of the weekly temperatures departures...only the 1st week (thru March 4th) and 3rd week (12-18) of March recorded above normal temperatures. Extreme high temperatures were in the mid 60's on the 12/13 of March and extreme low temperatures were in the upper teens on March 27th. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for March 2001 totaled 2.80 inches statewide which was 1.79 inches BELOW NORMAL...or 66 percent of normal rainfall ranking March 2001 as the 24th driest March in the past 106 years. All of the weekly rainfall departures for March 2001 were below normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.51 inches, Central 2.55 inches, Bluegrass 2.63 inches and East 2.67 inches, which was 2.20, 1.79, 1.67 and 0.85 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By Kentucky station, precipitation totals (liq. equ.) ranged from a low of 1.16 inches at Covington to a high of 3.62 inches at Somerset. Snowfall was limited with most locations only reporting trace amounts of snowfall for the month...except for Jackson, KY which reported 2.4 inches for the month. Trace amounts of snow were reported during the week of March 5 thru 11, and on the first day of Spring, March 20. --- --- Kentucky Climate Summary: For February 2001 ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL...LITTLE SNOW: Temperatures for February 2001 averaged 41.5 degrees across the state which was 5.4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL and nearly 10 degrees warmer than January 2001. Out of the past 107 years, February 2001 ranked as the 87 coldest (20th warmest) February. High temperatures averaged from 50 in the West to 53 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from NEAR NORMAL in the West to 8 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 33 degrees in the West to 34 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 6 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 8 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Extreme high temperatures were in the low 70's (RECORD or NEAR ROCORD) on the 8th and 9th of February and extreme low temperatures were in the mid teens on the 14th of February. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for February 2001 totaled 4.20 inches statewide which was 0.55 inches ABOVE NORMAL which was 120 percent of normal. Out of the past 107 years, February 2001 ranked as the 73rd driest (34th wettest). Precipitation totals by climate division, West 4.52 inches, Central 4.99 inches, Bluegrass 3.58 inches and East 4.36 inches, which was 0.55, 0.96, 0.30 and 0.98 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.76 inches at Huntington to a high of 5.92 inches at Somerset. Snowfall amounts for the month were small with with Jackson report 0.9 inches, Lexington Trace, Lousiville 0.4 inches, Covington 0.70 inches and Paducah 0.4 inches. For the winter season, snowfall totals: Paducah 8.5 inches, Louisville 19.1 inches, Covington 13.4 inches, Lexington 10.0 inches, Jackson 16.9 inches. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: January 2001 NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION: After a very cold December, January 2001 was more seasonal. Temperatures for January 2001 averaged 31.9 degrees across the state which was 0.1 degrees from NORMAL. This was 6 degrees warmer than the previous month but 2 degrees cooler than January 2000. High temperatures averaged from 41 in the West to 42 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from -2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 24 degrees in the West to 25 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperatures ranged from NEAR NORMAL in the West to +3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Extreme high temperatures were near 60 degrees and extreme low temperatures were in the single digits to near zero. Snowfall was more frequent this January compared to January 2000. Snowfall totals ranged from 2 to 4 inches West, 4 to 8 inches Central and East. Total snowfall accumulations so far this winter ranged from 8 to 10 inches in the West, to 10 to 18 inches Central and East. Yet, precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 2.21 inches statewide which was 1.16 inch BELOW NORMAL. For the state as a whole, that was 70 percent of normal precipitation (liquid equ.) Precipitation totals by climate division, West 1.90 inches, Central 2.28 inches, Bluegrass 1.98 inches and East 3.05 inches, which was 1.51, 1.37, 1.03 and 0.28 inches BELOW NORMAL respectively. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.66 inches at Mayfield to a high of 3.73 inches at Cumberland Gap. --- To compare the temperatures and rainfall of Jan. 2001, to other January's back to 1895....check this url: http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/ranking_state.htm --- * = Based on preliminary data from 1st-order NWS and Ag. Weather Stations