KENTUCKY MONTHLY AND ANNUAL CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR -- 2002 By: Tom Priddy--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. Sources: UKAWC, NCDC and Midwest Regional Climate Center --- Kentucky Climate Summary: December 2002 Near Normal Temperatures and Above Normal Rainfall: The 15th Wettest September thru December in Past 108 years. Cooler temperatures the first two weeks of December were offset by very mild weather during the latter half of the month...especially during the third week when temperatures surged into the low to mid 60's. Baring the very mild week... December 2002 felt more like colder winter's of the past with morning low temperatures falling below freezing 15 to 20 times...and into the teens several times. The high temperatures failed to warm above 32 degrees on 3 to 5 days statewide. It was also a wet month with field operations stalled most of the month. December's above normal rainfall continued the wet spell that started in September....ranking the 4-month period from September thru December as the 15th wettest September thru December in the past 108 years. By itself...December 2002 was the 27th wettest and 51st coolest December in the past century. In addition, unlike past Decembers...several snow and freezing precip events occurred during the month. Snowfall totals were generally...4 to 6 inches for the Northern half of the state and 1 to 3 inches for the Southern half...with some locally heavier snowfall totals of up to 8 inches in the West. Temperatures for the period averaged 37 degrees across the state which was near normal. High temperatures averaged from 45 in the West to 45 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees below normal in the West to near normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 31 degrees in the West to 32 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 2 degrees above normal in the West to 8 degrees above normal in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 5.02 inches statewide which was 0.74 inches above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 5.75 inches, Central 5.38 inches, Bluegrass 4.39 inches and East 4.62 inches, which was 1.18, 0.55, 0.41 and 0.76 inches respectively above normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 3.62 inches at Cumberland Gap to a high of 7.62 inches at Louisville. Precipitation(in) ranking for Kentucky for September through December Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1919 22.84| 2 1990 22.08| 3 1921 21.81| 4 1957 20.99| 5 1951 20.59| 6 1915 20.54| 7 1926 20.19| 8 1984 20.13| 9 1906 20.06| 10 1979 19.96| 11 1978 19.75| 12 1902 19.71| 13 1972 19.59| 14 1911 19.50| 15 2002 19.47| 16 1996 19.23| 17 1988 18.61| 18 1986 18.29| 19 1975 17.83| 20 1973 17.10| 21 1993 16.99| 22 1977 16.87| 23 1948 16.70| 24 1942 16.59| 25 1925t16.43| 25 1983t16.43| 27 1970 16.37| 28 1905 16.30| 29 1900 16.12| 30 1923t16.11| 30 1929t16.11| 32 1982 15.88| 33 1991 15.56| 34 2001 15.38| 35 1964 15.24| 36 1914 15.20| 37 1966 15.11| 38 1910 15.07| 39 1927 14.91| 40 1898 14.90| 41 1936 14.87| 42 1931 14.85| 43 1989 14.59| 44 1932 14.38| 45 1959 14.28| 46 1950 14.26| 47 1974 14.23| 48 1985 14.22| 49 1967 14.22| 50 1962 14.03| 51 1924 13.89| 52 1949 13.88| 53 1918 13.85| 54 1907 13.52| 55 1954 13.51| 56 1933 13.40| 57 1945 13.37| 58 1896 13.36| 59 1969 13.08| 60 1995 13.06| 61 1922 12.98| 62 1913 12.70| 63 1916 12.67| 64 1987 12.59| 65 1901 12.55| 66 1961 12.45| 67 1968 12.26| 68 1944 12.16| 69 1895 12.00| 70 1992 11.96| 71 1946 11.87| 72 1956t11.59| 72 1960t11.59| 74 1971 11.57| 75 1994 11.53| 76 1935 11.47| 77 1928 11.46| 78 1981 11.45| 79 1899 11.17| 80 1909 11.13| 81 2000 11.08| 82 1937 11.00| 83 1952 10.97| 84 1920 10.88| 85 1998 10.79| 86 1965 10.78| 87 1941 10.74| 88 1897 10.65| 89 1997 10.62| 90 1934 10.61| 91 1976 10.59| 92 1912 10.21| 93 1980 10.18| 94 1955 10.10| 95 1999 10.01| 96 1938 9.83| 97 1947 9.80| 98 1903 9.59| 99 1940 9.56|100 1917 9.42| 101 1958 9.17|102 1904 9.10|103 1930 8.46|104 1943 8.44|105 1908 7.39| 106 1939 7.16|107 1953 6.29|108 1963 5.24| t means a tie === Kentucky Climate Summary: November 2002* BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND NEAR NORMAL RAINFALL: 4th Wettest September, October and November in the Past Century. Cooler than normal temperatures and near normal rainfall rounded out the month of November of 2002. The cooler than normal temperatures for the month were a change from the previous five mild months. Also, even with only near normal rainfall pattern for the month...there was still enough rainfall to elevate the total rainfall for September, October and November to the 4th wettest in the past century. Temperatures for November ranked as the 32nd coolest November and the 43rd wettest November in the past century. Temperatures for the month averaged 44 degrees across the state which was 2.6 degrees below normal. High temperatures averaged from 53 in the West to 52 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 6 degrees below normal in the West to 4 degrees below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 36 degrees in the West to 36 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 1 degree below normal in the West to 3 degrees above normal in the East. Extreme low temperatures ranged in the upper teens to low 20's near the end of the month and extreme highs were in the mid 70's during the first week of the month. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 3.89 inches statewide which was -0.15 inches from normal. Central, Bluegrass and Eastern Kentucky received normal to above normal rainfall. Western Kentucky only received about half of its normal rainfall. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.73 inches, Central 4.45 inches, Bluegrass 4.30 inches and East 4.11 inches, which was -1.80, +0.15, +0.62 and +0.38 inches respectively from normal. By Kentucky weather station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.29 inches at Covington to a high of 5.00 inches at Bowling Green. Snowfall occurred on at least two occasions across the state but mostly came in flurries and totals of less than 1 inch. Kentucky November 2002 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 44.9 47.8 -3.0 2.73 4.52 -1.80 60 2 44.7 47.1 -2.4 4.45 4.29 0.15 104 3 43.3 45.9 -2.5 4.30 3.68 0.62 117 4 43.3 45.8 -2.4 4.11 3.73 0.38 110 State 44.0 46.6 -2.6 3.89 4.04 -0.15 96 --- Kentucky Climate Summary: October 2002* Tom Priddy and Corey Pieper, UK Ag. Weather Center Wettest September and October Combined in Past Century: After ending hydrologic and agricultural drought due to a very wet September... above normal rainfall continued during October at a record-level pace...in part because of the remnants of tropical storm's Isidore and Lili moved across the Bluegrass state during the 1st nine days of October. By the end of October...for the growing season, Kentucky had experienced the 7th wettest spring (18.88 inches), the 16th warmest April, the 11th hottest and 16th driest summer, and the wettest combined September and October (11.71 inches) in the past century. Through October, 2002 had experienced the largest magnitude of rainfall variation by season within a single calendar year in the past century...only followed by 1984's very wet spring (18.77 inches)...dry summer followed by a wet fall season (8.15 inches). Temperatures for October 2002 averaged 57.8 degrees across the state which was about 1 degree above normal. High temperatures averaged from 64 in the West to 64 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 4 degrees below normal in the West to 3 degrees below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 48 degrees in the West to 50 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 2 degrees above normal in the West to 5 degrees above normal in the East. Frost threatened low-lying areas during the latter part of the month but no "killing" freeze occurred during October 2002. The extreme high temperatures was near 90 degrees at Paducah at the start of month and the extreme low temperatures was in the 35 degrees at Paducah on Oct. 14th. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 5.89 inches statewide which was 2.84 inches above normal and the 3rd wettest October in the past century. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 5.36 inches, Central 6.45 inches, Bluegrass 6.39 inches and East 5.57 inches, which was 2.19, 3.25, 3.45 and 2.64 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.68 inches at Williamstown to a high of 7.08 inches at Berea. Kentucky October 2002 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 58.2 58.7 -0.5 5.36 3.17 2.19 169 2 58.6 57.5 1.2 6.45 3.20 3.25 201 3 56.3 56.3 0.0 6.39 2.93 3.45 218 4 57.9 55.8 2.1 5.57 2.93 2.64 190 State 57.8 57.0 0.8 5.89 3.05 2.84 193 --- Kentucky Climate Summary: September 2002 ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATUERS AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL: The weather for September 2002 will go into the record books as the 5th wettest and 15th warmest September in the past century and a month of flip-flops and contrasts. In an interesting turn of weather events...it was a flip for the better. Very warm and dry conditions dominated the month until the remnants of hurricane Isidore moved through Kentucky and the Ohio Valley. In a two week period during the latter half of the month, Kentucky went from severe hydrologic drought in some sections of the state...to "wet spell" according to the Palmer Drought Severity and Crop Moisture Indices. Additionally, the final week of September had slightly below normal temperatures, which was the first time the "entire summer" (18 weeks) for below normal weekly average temperatures. Temperatures for September 2002 averaged 72 degrees across the state which was 4 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 85 in the West to 82 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 4 degrees above normal in the West to 5 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 61 degrees in the West to 61 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 3 degrees above normal in the West to 5 degrees above normal in the East. The number of days where the high temperature equaled or exceeded 90 degrees (F) was much above normal with Lexington receiving 8 days (2 is normal) and Paducah had 11 days (4 is normal). Rainfall for September 2002 period totaled 5.81 inches statewide which was 2.33 inches above normal and 167 percent of normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 6.49 inches, Central 6.82 inches, Bluegrass 5.82 inches and East 4.56 inches, which was 3.12, 2.92, 2.56 and 1.15 inches respectively above normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 2.09 inches at Cape Girardeau to a high of 9.46 inches at Bowling Green. =========== Precipitation(in) ranking for Kentucky for September through September Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1979 8.02| 2 1906 6.88| 3 1996 6.32| 4 1921 6.01| 5 2002* 5.81| 6 1975 5.73| 7 1965 5.63| 8 1974 5.40| 9 1929 5.25| 10 1924 5.03| 11 1910 4.94| 12 1950 4.89| 13 1898 4.88| 14 1933 4.79| 15 1988t 4.76| 15 1989t 4.76| 17 1962 4.67| 18 1964 4.66| 19 1970 4.65| 20 1934 4.59| 21 1902 4.49| 22 1957t 4.41| 22 1986t 4.41| 24 1971 4.37| 25 1951 4.35| 26 1944 4.33| 27 1982 4.31| 28 1926 4.23| 29 1896 4.22| 30 1911 4.15| 31 1972 4.13| 32 1993 4.10| 33 1966 4.00| 34 1901 3.99| 35 1916t 3.90| 35 1954t 3.90| 37 1976 3.88| 38 1915 3.72| 39 1920t 3.70| 39 1992t 3.70| 41 1977 3.68| 42 1938 3.46| 43 1932t 3.38| 43 2000t 3.38| 45 1907 3.36| 46 1936 3.34| 47 1914 3.32| 48 1918 3.29| 49 1923t 3.21| 49 1927t 3.21| 49 1942t 3.21| 52 1981 3.20| 53 1958 3.18| 54 1925 3.17| 55 1955 3.15| 56 1912 3.14| 57 1960 3.10| 58 1945 3.08| 59 1990 3.06| 60 1984t 2.94| 60 1991t 2.94| 62 1905 2.93| 63 1904 2.88| 64 1917 2.87| 65 1947 2.84| 66 1909t 2.81| 66 1943t 2.81| 68 1913 2.79| 69 1930 2.76| 70 1980 2.73| 71 1968 2.69| 72 1967 2.68| 73 1995 2.59| 74 1946 2.58| 75 1900 2.52| 76 1931 2.50| 77 1922t 2.49| 77 1935t 2.49| 79 1952 2.40| 80 1997 2.38| 81 1956 2.33| 82 1994 2.32| 83 1987t 2.31| 83 2001t 2.31| 85 1973 2.30| 86 1985 2.25| 87 1959 2.12| 88 1948 2.09| 89 1969 1.90| 90 1919t 1.88| 90 1949t 1.88| 92 1940 1.87| 93 1899 1.86| 94 1937 1.84| 95 1961 1.54| 96 1978 1.32| 97 1999 1.28| 98 1939 1.26| 99 1963 1.23|100 1895 1.22| 101 1953 1.20|102 1908 1.15|103 1998 1.12|104 1983 1.07|105 1941 1.06| 106 1903 1.01|107 1928 0.90|108 1897 0.28| t means a tie -- Temperature(F) ranking for Kentucky for September through September Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1925 76.5| 2 1921 74.8| 3 1931 74.2| 4 1900 73.9| 5 1911t 73.6| 5 1936t 73.6| 7 1933t 73.5| 7 1939t 73.5| 9 1970 72.9| 10 1926t 72.8| 10 1998t 72.8| 12 1895t 72.7| 12 1898t 72.7| 14 1906 72.3| 15 1941t 72.2| 15 2002* 72.2| 17 1897t 72.1| 17 1954t 72.1| 19 1922t 72.0| 19 1930t 72.0| 19 1955t 72.0| 22 1945 71.9| 23 1973 71.6| 24 1927 71.5| 25 1978t 71.4| 25 1980t 71.4| 27 1910t 71.1| 27 1972t 71.1| 29 1971 71.0| 30 1908t 70.9| 30 1961t 70.9| 30 1986t 70.9| 33 1919t 70.8| 33 1977t 70.8| 35 1959 70.6| 36 1960 70.5| 37 1904 70.4| 38 1912 70.3| 39 1920 70.1| 40 1915 70.0| 41 1905t 69.5| 41 1965t 69.5| 43 1938t 69.4| 43 1947t 69.4| 43 1957t 69.4| 46 1983 69.3| 47 1953 69.2| 48 1923t 69.1| 48 1932t 69.1| 48 1990t 69.1| 51 1913 68.9| 52 1929t 68.8| 52 1948t 68.8| 54 1991 68.7| 55 1934 68.5| 56 1903t 68.4| 56 1907t 68.4| 56 1987t 68.4| 59 1944 68.2| 60 1958t 68.1| 60 1999t 68.1| 62 1899t 68.0| 62 1935t 68.0| 62 1988t 68.0| 65 1896t 67.9| 65 1964t 67.9| 67 1946 67.6| 68 1901t 67.4| 68 1942t 67.4| 70 1951t 67.3| 70 1952t 67.3| 70 1985t 67.3| 70 1997t 67.3| 74 1989t 67.2| 74 2000t 67.2| 76 1914t 67.1| 76 1968t 67.1| 76 1979t 67.1| 79 1909t 67.0| 79 1917t 67.0| 79 1937t 67.0| 82 1992 66.9| 83 1969 66.8| 84 1950t 66.7| 84 1993t 66.7| 84 1995t 66.7| 87 1902 66.6| 88 1916t 66.5| 88 1963t 66.5| 90 1996t 66.3| 90 2001t 66.3| 92 1956t 66.2| 92 1984t 66.2| 94 1940 66.1| 95 1982 65.9| 96 1981 65.8| 97 1943t 65.7| 97 1966t 65.7| 99 1994 65.6|100 1962 65.4| 101 1976 65.0|102 1928 64.8|103 1924 64.6|104 1975 64.5|105 1949 64.0| 106 1967 63.9|107 1974 63.6|108 1918 62.1| t means a tie --- Kentucky Climate Summary: August 2002* Above Normal Temperatures and Below Normal Rainfall: 10th Hottest and 40th Driest August in Past 108 Years... Also...11th Hottest and 18th Driest Summer in Past 108 Years: August 2002 will go into the record books as both a hot and dry month for the Commonwealth. It was the 3rd straight month with above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall. Preliminary analysis indicated that this August was the 10th hottest and the 40th driest in the past 108 years. For the summer...it was the 11th hottest and 18th driest June, July and August in the past 108 years with less than 10.00 inches received across the state. The driest summer (June through August was 1930 only 5.06 inches. Other noteable drier summers were 1936, 1983, 1988 and 1999 in recent history. By the end of the month, Moderate hydrologic drought and serious agricultural drought existed across most the state with only the Central KY climate zone fairing slightly better with above normal rainfall for the month...but still unfavorably dry...and East was Abnormally dry. West and Bluegrass areas were in the worst shape and needed nearly 6 inches above normal rainfall to return to hydrologic normal. Temperatures for the month averaged 78 degrees across the state which was 3 degrees Above normal. High temperatures averaged from 89 in the West to 87 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees Above normal in the West to 3 degrees Above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 67 degrees in the West to 66 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees Above normal in the West to 3 degrees Above normal in the East. One measure of how hot the summer was is to look at the number of days where the high temperature equaled or exceeded 90 degrees (F). For this summer...Paducah had 54 days, Louisville Airport 51, Lexington 36, Covington 29 and Jackson 12...which was 11, 20, 16, 10, and -9 days from normal. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for August 2002 totaled 2.90 inches statewide which was 0.71 inches Below normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.27 inches, Central 4.30 inches, Bluegrass 3.05 inches and East 2.26 inches, which was -0.91, +0.78, -0.67 and -1.64 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.42 inches at Williamstown to a high of 5.01 inches at Bowling Green. Outlook: Temperatures through the middle of September are expected to be above normal with below normal rainfall. The September through November outlook for Kentucky is calling for near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall. The winter outlook is calling for near normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. Temperature(F) ranking for Kentucky for August through August Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1936 80.3| 2 1900 79.8| 3 1918 79.6| 4 1995 79.5| 5 1983 79.4| 6 1947t 78.8| 6 1980t 78.8| 8 1988 77.8| 9 1955 77.6| 10 1937t 77.5| 10 2002* 77.5| 12 1899t 77.4| 12 1913t 77.4| 14 1938t 77.3| 14 1943t 77.3| 14 1959t 77.3| 17 1954 77.0| 18 1975 76.9| 19 1906t 76.7| 19 1926t 76.7| 19 1987t 76.7| 22 1896t 76.5| 22 1941t 76.5| 22 2001t 76.5| 25 1916t 76.4| 25 1960t 76.4| 27 1909t 76.3| 27 1928t 76.3| 29 1935 76.2| 30 1898t 76.1| 30 1993t 76.1| 32 1895 76.0| 33 1924t 75.9| 33 1925t 75.9| 33 1930t 75.9| 33 1952t 75.9| 33 1968t 75.9| 38 1932t 75.8| 38 1934t 75.8| 40 1940 75.7| 41 1908t 75.6| 41 1951t 75.6| 43 1911t 75.5| 43 1944t 75.5| 43 1953t 75.5| 46 1914t 75.4| 46 1921t 75.4| 46 1998t 75.4| 46 1999t 75.4| 50 1970t 75.2| 50 1977t 75.2| 50 1978t 75.2| 53 1905 75.1| 54 1902t 75.0| 54 1991t 75.0| 56 1962t 74.9| 56 2000t 74.9| 58 1901t 74.8| 58 1903t 74.8| 58 1923t 74.8| 58 1945t 74.8| 58 1949t 74.8| 58 1973t 74.8| 58 1984t 74.8| 65 1956 74.7| 66 1904t 74.6| 66 1922t 74.6| 66 1939t 74.6| 69 1897t 74.5| 69 1942t 74.5| 71 1919t 74.4| 71 1996t 74.4| 73 1957t 74.3| 73 1972t 74.3| 75 1907t 74.2| 75 1958t 74.2| 75 1964t 74.2| 75 1965t 74.2| 75 1979t 74.2| 80 1931t 74.1| 80 1933t 74.1| 80 1948t 74.1| 83 1989 74.0| 84 1969t 73.8| 84 1990t 73.8| 86 1961 73.7| 87 1974 73.6| 88 1981 73.5| 89 1910t 73.4| 89 1929t 73.4| 91 1917t 73.3| 91 1985t 73.3| 93 1912t 73.1| 93 1994t 73.1| 95 1963t 73.0| 95 1997t 73.0| 97 1966 72.9| 98 1971 72.8| 99 1920t 72.7| 99 1986t 72.7| 101 1982 72.6|102 1950 71.6|103 1976 71.5|104 1915t 70.7|104 1992t 70.7| 106 1927 70.5|107 1967 70.3|108 1946 70.0| t means a tie Precipitation(in) ranking for Kentucky for August through August Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1925 1.27| 2 1943 1.44| 3 1953 1.60| 4 1957 1.76| 5 1929 1.77| 6 1999 1.84| 7 1895 1.85| 8 1998 1.89| 9 1930 1.94| 10 1897t 2.01| 10 1983t 2.01| 12 1922 2.09| 13 1902 2.15| 14 1948 2.17| 15 1936 2.21| 16 1909t 2.23| 16 1972t 2.23| 18 1973 2.24| 19 1965 2.25| 20 1904 2.28| 21 1955 2.32| 22 1910t 2.34| 22 1962t 2.34| 24 1900 2.36| 25 1908 2.40| 26 1913 2.42| 27 1896 2.43| 28 1996 2.45| 29 1927 2.48| 30 1945 2.58| 31 1924 2.59| 32 1939 2.63| 33 1984 2.65| 34 1899 2.66| 35 1976 2.67| 36 1918 2.74| 37 1987 2.80| 38 1903 2.82| 39 1991 2.84| 40 2002* 2.90| 41 1917t 3.00| 41 1919t 3.00| 41 1956t 3.00| 41 1980t 3.00| 45 1941 3.15| 46 1951 3.16| 47 1981 3.18| 48 1960 3.22| 49 1967 3.23| 50 1964 3.27| 51 1905 3.28| 52 1986 3.29| 53 1898 3.30| 54 1961 3.34| 55 1997 3.38| 56 1963 3.45| 57 1911t 3.48| 57 1971t 3.48| 59 1940 3.53| 60 1933t 3.55| 60 2000t 3.55| 62 1952 3.59| 63 1968 3.61| 64 1994 3.62| 65 2001 3.63| 66 1995 3.64| 67 1916 3.66| 68 1907t 3.69| 68 1935t 3.69| 70 1932 3.71| 71 1928 3.73| 72 1906 3.75| 73 1937t 3.77| 73 1988t 3.77| 75 1993 3.89| 76 1947 3.90| 77 1990 3.91| 78 1992 3.95| 79 1959t 4.01| 79 1969t 4.01| 81 1912 4.05| 82 1958 4.08| 83 1989 4.09| 84 1975 4.11| 85 1954 4.28| 86 1901t 4.40| 86 1970t 4.40| 88 1949 4.48| 89 1921 4.55| 90 1946 4.63| 91 1966 4.65| 92 1950 4.82| 93 1938 4.91| 94 1920 4.99| 95 1914 5.11| 96 1934 5.12| 97 1931 5.18| 98 1923 5.19| 99 1915 5.41|100 1979 5.55| 101 1982 5.56|102 1944 5.60|103 1978 5.79|104 1985 5.85|105 1942 6.34| 106 1926 6.46|107 1977 6.57|108 1974 7.38| t means a tie Precipitation(in) ranking for Kentucky for June through August Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1930 5.06| 2 1936 6.89| 3 1913 8.06| 4 1983 8.16| 5 1952 8.78| 6 1953 8.80| 7 1902 8.97| 8 1999 9.02| 9 1904 9.12| 10 1919 9.29| 11 1944 9.32| 12 1984t 9.40| 12 1991t 9.40| 14 1925 9.46| 15 1899 9.56| 16 1943 9.71| 17 1988 9.75| 18 2002* 9.92| 19 1918 9.96| 20 1911 10.02| 21 1940 10.10| 22 1954 10.19| 23 1986 10.20| 24 1929 10.20| 25 1964 10.24| 26 1901 10.25| 27 1903 10.28| 28 1957 10.28| 29 1921 10.33| 30 1922t10.39| 30 1980t10.39| 32 1948 10.60| 33 1927t10.66| 33 1955t10.66| 35 1968t10.83| 35 1987t10.83| 37 1897t10.84| 37 1966t10.84| 39 1914 10.91| 40 1924 10.95| 41 1990 11.06| 42 1908 11.07| 43 1951t11.10| 43 1975t11.10| 45 1965t11.12| 45 1995t11.12| 47 1972 11.19| 48 1945 11.20| 49 1959 11.37| 50 1933 11.38| 51 1994 11.42| 52 1962 11.63| 53 1931 11.65| 54 1937 11.72| 55 1895 11.76| 56 1993 12.05| 57 1917 12.06| 58 1920 12.29| 59 1898 12.34| 60 1947 12.41| 61 1970 12.42| 62 2000 12.45| 63 1963 12.50| 64 1932 12.56| 65 1956 12.64| 66 1973 13.01| 67 1939 13.02| 68 1996 13.06| 69 1946 13.14| 70 1916 13.15| 71 1997 13.26| 72 1969 13.42| 73 1976 13.49| 74 1912 13.53| 75 1981 13.57| 76 1941 13.61| 77 1907 13.70| 78 1923 13.71| 79 1909 13.83| 80 1960 13.83| 81 2001 13.84| 82 1900 13.87| 83 1978t14.09| 83 1982t14.09| 85 1949 14.10| 86 1905 14.26| 87 1934 14.27| 88 1971 14.34| 89 1985 14.43| 90 1967 14.49| 91 1961 14.62| 92 1926 14.66| 93 1974 14.73| 94 1992 14.80| 95 1906 14.84| 96 1896 15.19| 97 1989 15.73| 98 1998 15.90| 99 1915 15.98|100 1958 16.23| 101 1938 16.27|102 1977 16.35|103 1935 16.38|104 1942 16.68|105 1910 16.99| 106 1979 17.20|107 1950 17.93|108 1928 19.05| t means a tie Temperature(F) ranking for Kentucky for June through August Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1936 78.7| 2 1952 77.9| 3 1921 77.7| 4 1934 77.5| 5 1943 77.2| 6 1914 77.1| 7 1913 77.0| 8 1901 77.0| 9 1900t 76.8| 9 1954t 76.8| 11 2002* 76.7| 12 1899 76.5| 13 1919 76.5| 14 1953t 76.4| 14 1980t 76.4| 16 1983 76.4| 17 1944 76.3| 18 1898 76.3| 19 1995 76.3| 20 1999 76.2| 21 1925 76.2| 22 1949 76.1| 23 1930 76.1| 24 1941 76.1| 25 1987 76.0| 26 1988 75.9| 27 1932t 75.9| 27 1993t 75.9| 29 1931 75.8| 30 1991 75.6| 31 1942 75.6| 32 1937 75.5| 33 1896 75.4| 34 1933 75.4| 35 1895 75.3| 36 1986 75.3| 37 1918 75.3| 38 1939 75.2| 39 1959 75.1| 40 1911 75.1| 41 1922 75.1| 42 1902 75.1| 43 1938t 75.1| 43 1977t 75.1| 45 1998 75.1| 46 1951 75.0| 47 1975 75.0| 48 1908 74.9| 49 1973 74.9| 50 1905t 74.9| 50 1906t 74.9| 52 1897 74.9| 53 1978 74.9| 54 1909t 74.8| 54 1955t 74.8| 54 1957t 74.8| 57 1969 74.8| 58 1923t 74.8| 58 1935t 74.8| 60 1981 74.7| 61 1926 74.7| 62 1948 74.7| 63 1994 74.6| 64 1916t 74.6| 64 2001t 74.6| 66 1984 74.6| 67 1968 74.6| 68 1940t 74.5| 68 1964t 74.5| 70 1956 74.4| 71 2000 74.4| 72 1924 74.2| 73 1960 74.1| 74 1962 74.1| 75 1966 74.1| 76 1904 73.9| 77 1928 73.9| 78 1971 73.9| 79 1990 73.8| 80 1970 73.8| 81 1907t 73.8| 81 1958t 73.8| 83 1989 73.8| 84 1947 73.7| 85 1929 73.6| 86 1945t 73.5| 86 1996t 73.5| 88 1965 73.5| 89 1985 73.4| 90 1903 73.2| 91 1979 73.2| 92 1997 73.1| 93 1912 72.9| 94 1920t 72.9| 94 1963t 72.9| 96 1982 72.9| 97 1910 72.8| 98 1917 72.8| 99 1972 72.7|100 1946t 72.7| 100 1961t 72.7|102 1974 72.3|103 1915 72.3|104 1950 72.1|105 1976 72.1| 106 1927 71.8|107 1992 71.8|108 1967 71.4| t means a tie --- Kentucky Climate Summary: July 2002 Above Normal Temperatures and Below Normal Rainfall: Drought returned to the Bluegrass state as very warm temperatures continued the entire month of July 2002. Temperatures for July 2002 averaged 79 degrees across the state which was 3 degrees above normal and ranked this month as the 17th warmest July in the past 108 years. High temperatures averaged from 91 in the West to 86 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degree above normal in the West to near normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 70 degrees in the West to 68 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees above normal in the West to 3 degrees above normal in the East. Days with high temperatures of 90 degrees or greater ranged from 23 days in Paducah to 15 days at Lexington which was 7 to 10 days greater than normal. Rainfall for July 2002 totaled 4.02 inches statewide which was 0.74 inches below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 2.75 inches, Central 4.31 inches, Bluegrass 3.68 inches and East 5.03 inches, which was -1.36, -0.20, -0.83 and +0.58 inches respectively from normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 0.20 inches at Mayfield to a high of 6.65 inches at Somerset. As of July 29, Central and Bluegrass areas were experiencing MILD hydrologic drought...and the Crop Moisture Index indicated topsoil moisture short statewide with West and Bluegrass area experiencing "abnormally dry, prospects deteriorating" conditions. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: June 2002 Above Normal Temperatures and Below Normal Rainfall: After the 7th wettest spring in Kentucky...drier, muggy conditions prevailed during June 2002. Most of the monthly rainfall occurred during the first 10 days of the month with the final 3 weeks receiving widely scattered showers and thunderstorms on nearly a daily basis and below normal rainfall. The first and forth week's of June 2002 were much warmer than the middle two weeks...elevating the ranking for June of 2002 as the 18th warmest June in the past 108 years. Temperatures for June 2002 averaged 75 degrees across the state which was 2 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 87 in the West to 84 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from near normal in the West to 1 degree above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 66 degrees in the West to 64 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperatures ranged from 3 degrees above normal in the West to 2 degrees above normal in the East. Extreme high temperatures were in the mid 90's and extreme low temperatures were in the upper 40's. West KY locations received 12 to 15 days, Central 6 to 9 days and East 1 to 5 days where the high temperature equaled or exceeded 90 degrees (F). Rainfall for June 2002 totaled 3.72 inches statewide which was 0.54 inches below normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.85 inches, Central 3.88 inches, Bluegrass 3.86 inches and East 4.18 inches, which was 1.13, 0.48, 0.49 and 0.15 inches respectively below normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 0.83 inches at Paducah to a high of 5.97 inches at Berea. ==== Kentucky Climate Summary: May 2002 BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL: 17th Wettest May...7th Wettest March, April & May in the Past 108 Years... Latest Frost Since 1947, 1966... Temperatures for May 2002 averaged 63 degrees across the state which was 2 degrees BELOW normal. High temperatures averaged from 78 in the West to 75 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 4 degrees BELOW normal in the West to 2 degrees BELOW normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 57 degrees in the West to 54 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. Extreme high temperatures were in the 80's and extreme lows were in the low 30's with record and near-record low temperatrues set on May 19 thru 22...exceeding many locations last expected frost date of May 10th by 7 to 9 days. Additionally, most locations in the state received 5 to 10 days with high temperatures in the 80's. Soil temperatures across the state average in the low to mid 60's at 4 inches under a sod cover. Rainfall for the month totaled 6.29 inches statewide which was 1.30 inches ABOVE normal which ranked this month as the 17th wettest May in the past 108 years. Combined with the rainfall totals for March, April and May of 18.99 inches ranked the 3 month period as the 7th wettest March thru May in the past 108 years. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 7.34 inches, Central 6.70 inches, Bluegrass 5.81 inches and East 5.50 inches, which was 2.36, 1.44, 0.90 and 0.64 inches respectively ABOVE normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 3.52 inches at Cumberland Gap to a high of 9.46 inches at Paducah. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: April 2002 ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL: The 9th warmest and 24th wettest April in the past 108 years! Temperatures for the period averaged 59 degrees across the state which was 3.4 degrees ABOVE normal and 13 degrees warmer than March 2002. High temperatures averaged from 71 in the West to 70 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from NEAR normal in the West to 5 degrees ABOVE normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 50 degrees in the West to 49 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 3 degrees ABOVE normal in the West to 4 degrees ABOVE normal in the East. Preliminary data indicated that April 2002 was in the top ten warmest Aprils in the past 108 years. Rainfall for the month of April 2002 totaled 5.25 inches statewide which was 1.15 inches ABOVE normal. Preliminary data indicated that April 2002 was the 24th wettest in the past 108 years. In addition, the combined rainfall for March and April 2002 was the 8th wettest in the past 108 years. Rainfall totals for April 2002 by climate division, West 5.74 inches, Central 5.70 inches, Bluegrass 5.35 inches and East 4.47 inches, which was 1.21, 1.50, 1.46 and 0.65 inches respectively ABOVE normal. For the entire state, rainfall total was 128 percent of normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.09 inches at Cumberland Gap to a high of 8.20 inches at Henderson. --- Kentucky April 2002 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 60.4 57.5 2.9 5.74 4.53 1.21 127 2 59.5 56.1 3.4 5.70 4.20 1.50 136 3 58.4 54.5 3.9 5.35 3.89 1.46 138 4 57.9 54.4 3.5 4.47 3.82 0.65 117 State 59.0 55.6 3.4 5.25 4.09 1.15 128 =============== --- Kentucky Climate Summary: March 2002 BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL: MARCH 2002 --- THE 9TH WETTEST MARCH IN THE PAST 108 YEARS! Periods of mild temperatures were offset by cold, arctic air during March 2002. Dry conditions occurred during the first half of the month...but the remainder of the month was very wet making March 2002 the 9th wettest March in the past 108 years. Due to excessive rainfall across Kentucky in March, many streams and rivers rose rapidly and resulted in minor to moderate flooding for most areas. Temperatures for the month averaged 46 degrees across the state which was 1 degree BELOW NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 56 in the West to 58 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 4 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 37 degrees in the West to 38 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 1 degree ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 7.71 inches statewide which was 3.14 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 7.86 inches, Central 7.62 inches, Bluegrass 8.00 inches and East 7.45 inches, which was 3.18, 2.75, 3.65 and 3.04 inches respectively ABOVE NORMAL. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 4.56 inches at Covington to a high of 8.30 inches at Louisville. Total snow accumulation was limited to generally less than an inch across the state. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: February 2002 ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL: Mostly seasonal to mild temperatures and dry conditions prevailed during February 2002 until the last few days of the month when arctic air returned to the Bluegrass state. Despite the colder temperatures at month's end... February 2002 was the 4th month straight (since November 2001) with above normal temperatures. It ranked as the 12th driest February and the 43rd warmest February on record. Additionally, February 2002 was 3 degrees cooler than February 2001. Temperatures for the month averaged 38 degrees across the state which was 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 50 in the West to 49 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 30 degrees in the West to 29 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 1.85 inches statewide which was 1.90 inches BELOW NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.28 inches, Central 1.93 inches, Bluegrass 1.49 inches and East 1.69 inches, which was 1.76, 2.19, 1.94 and 1.77 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.83 inches at Grayson to a high of 2.71 inches at Paducah. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: January 2002 ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL: It was a very mild month with many locations reporting 4 to 5 days with high temperatures greater than 60 degrees and several locations reporting at least one day with temperatures in the 70's...a rare event in January. Only the first week of January 2002 recorded below normal temperatures for the week...the rest of the month was mostly mild. The first day of the month was the coldest with low temperatures dropping to the single digits. And the warmest day was near Jan. 28th were Jackson reported a record breaking 78 degrees. For the record...this month ranked as the 23rd warmest January and the 51 wettest January in the past 107 years. Temperatures for January 2002 averaged 38.4 degrees across the state which was 5 degrees ABOVE NORMAL and nearly 4 degrees colder than the previous month. High temperatures averaged from 50 in the West to 51 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 7 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 11 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 32 degrees in the West to 33 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 8 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 11 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Extreme high temperatures were in the upper 70's and extreme low temperature were in the single digits. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 4.06 inches statewide which was 0.38 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 4.08 inches, Central 3.67 inches, Bluegrass 2.99 inches and East 5.16 inches, which was +0.38, -0.35, -0.46 and +1.46 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.12 inches at Spindletop to a high of 5.26 inches at London. Snowfall totals for January 2002 ranged from 4 inches West up to 15 inches East. Kentucky 1/ 1/2002 to 1/31/2002 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 39.5 33.8 5.7 4.08 3.70 0.38 110 2 39.0 33.5 5.5 3.67 4.02 -0.35 91 3 38.0 31.9 6.0 2.99 3.45 -0.46 87 4 37.5 33.2 4.3 5.16 3.70 1.46 139 State 38.4 33.1 5.3 4.06 3.72 0.38 110 --- 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