KENTUCKY MONTHLY AND ANNUAL CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR -- 2009
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
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Kentucky Climate Summary
For December 2009
Just Below Normal Temperature and Below Normal Rainfall
After the extremes of a record wet October and a record dry November, December
calmed down a bit weather wise. The month of December started off wet in the
first two weeks, but dried up over the remaining weeks. This produced a drier
than normal month for the state as a whole. However, due to several storm tracks
coming off of the gulf and traveling up the east coast, our southeastern parts
of the state received more than normal rainfall. Temperature started the month
below normal then warmed in the next two weeks only to fall below normal in the
last few days. Overall this produced a month just below normal for temperature,
but overall pretty average.
Temperatures for the period averaged 36 degrees across the state which was 1
degree below normal. High temperatures averaged from 40 in the West to 41 in the
East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 5 degrees below normal
in the West to 3 degrees below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged
from 28 degrees in the West to 27 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low
temperature ranged from 1 degree below normal in the West to 4 degrees above
normal in the East.
Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 4.01 inches statewide which was
0.37 inches below normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 3.48
inches, Central 3.63 inches, Bluegrass 3.70 inches and East 4.89 inches, which
was -0.33, -0.32, +0.1, and +0.6 inches respectively from normal. By station,
totals ranged from a low of 2.73 inches at Princeton to a high of 5.95 inches at
Jackson.
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Kentucky Climate Summary
For November 2009
Above Normal Temperature and Much Below Normal Rainfall
Following a record wet October…the month of November pulled a complete one-
hundred and eighty degrees. Precipitation averaged for the state was the third
driest on record…and was the driest on record in western portions of the state
like Paducah. In fact…if rain did not come in on the last day of the month it
would have likely been the driest November on record statewide. November was
also consistent in its pattern with every week having below normal rainfall and
above normal temperature. The consistently mild conditions over the state caused
November to be tied for 18th for warmest on record state wide…compared to last
month being the 12th coolest on record.
Temperatures for the period averaged 48.9 degrees across the state which was 2.5
degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 62 in the West to 60 in
the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees above
normal in the West to 4 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures
averaged from 41 degrees in the West to 38 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.
Rainfall for the period totaled 1.11 inches statewide which was 2.98 inches
below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 1.28 inches, Central
0.90 inches, Bluegrass 1.02 inches and East 1.20 inches, which was 3.24, 3.37,
2.58 and 2.69 inches respectively below normal. By station, rainfall totals
ranged from a low of 0.56 inches at Paducah to a high of 1.50 inches at
Princeton.
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Kentucky Climate Summary
For October 2009
Below Normal Temperature and Much Above Normal Rainfall:
Just like September…October 2009 will go down as one of the wettest on
record...the 3rd wettest on record. Over the past 7 months...6 have been above
normal in rainfall…and only one week out of this month was below normal in
rainfall. For Paducah this was the wettest October on record and was in the top
ten for the wettest for cities all over the Commonwealth. Despite the last week
in October warming up…it was not enough to keep the month from being cooler than
average...the 12th coolest on record. In the west this was the 6th coldest
October on record. This is the opposite of September…which was above normal in
temperature state wide. Severe weather was scarce in October with only two days
of severe weather…producing 5 tornado reports.
Temperatures for the period averaged 53.8 degrees across the state which was 2.8
degrees below normal. High temperatures averaged from 62 in the West to 63 in
the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 8 degrees below
normal in the West to 5 degrees below normal in the East. Low temperatures
averaged from 46 degrees in the West to 45 degrees in the East. Departure from
normal low temperature ranged from 1 degree below normal in the West to near
normal in the East.
Rainfall for the period totaled 6.38 inches statewide which was 3.25 inches
above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 9.08 inches, Central
7.86 inches, Bluegrass 5.70 inches and East 3.70 inches, which was 5.91, 4.66,
2.77 and 0.77 inches respectively above normal. By station, precipitation totals
ranged from a low of 3.55 inches at Jackson to a high of 11.13 inches at
Hardinsburg.
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Kentucky Climate Summary
For the Period: September 2009
Above Normal Temperature and Much Above Normal Rainfall:
September 2009 will go into the record books as a very wet month with cool
conditions starting out, then warming slightly from mid month to the end of the
month. In fact, it was the 10th wettest September in the past 115 years. Little
severe weather occurred, however, there were several storms that dumped very
heavy rainfall across the Bluegrass state. By city, this was the 8th wettest
September on record at Lexington and Frankfort, and the 10th wettest at
Louisville. On the 20th Louisville set a new record for rainfall on that date of
3.95", which was just 0.35" away from the calendar day record for the entire
month, and was the 3rd wettest day Louisville has ever seen in September.
Temperatures for the period averaged 69 degrees across the state which was 1
degree above normal. 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 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 4 degrees above normal in the West to 4 degrees above
normal in the East.
Rainfall for the period totaled 5.55 inches statewide which was 2.07 inches
above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 5.11 inches,
Central 5.58 inches, Bluegrass 6.15 inches and East 5.45 inches, which was
1.77, 1.64, 2.90 and 1.99 inches respectively above normal. By station,
rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.67 inches at Nolin Lake to a high of
8.57 inches at Nashville.
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Kentucky Climate Summary
For the Period: August 2009
Below Normal Temperatures and Below Normal Rainfall:
August was a cool month, like much of the summer has been but also drier for
most of the state than previous months this summer. August was the first month
in the past 5 months with below normal rainfall for the Bluegrass state. The
exception to this rule was the historic flooding in and surrounding Louisville on
the morning of August 4th when storms stalled and redevloped over the area
providing nearly 7 inches in a very short time period. Otherwise, fairly benign
weather for the month. In fact, not even much hurricane activity in the tropical
Atlantic. It was the 24th coolest August and the 56th driest August in the past
115 years. Click here for more concerning the flooding.
Temperatures for the period averaged 74 degrees across the state which was 1
degree below normal. High temperatures averaged from 85 in the West to 82 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 65 degrees in the West to 64 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low
temperature ranged from near normal in the West to 1 degree above normal in the
East.
Rainfall for the period totaled 3.31 inches statewide which was 0.27 inches
below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.29 inches, Central
1.78 inches, Bluegrass 3.76 inches and East 4.19 inches, which was +0.11, -1.74,
+0.04 and +0.29 inches respectively from normal. By station, rainfall totals
ranged from a low of 0.39 inches at Glasgow to a high of 5.88 inches at
Louisville.
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Kentucky Climate Summary
For the Period: July 2009
Below Normal Temperatures and Above Normal Rainfall:
...A Very Unusual July for the Bluegrass State...
July 2009 will go into the record books as the 2nd coolest and 8th wettest July
in the past 115 years for the Bluegrass State. Most locations did not record any
days with temperatures equal or exceeding 90 degrees which is very rare for the
Commonwealth. Paducah was an exception with 2 days in the 90's (on the 9th and
15th). This was the first July where Louisville didn't record any days in the
90s during July since 1873. Of the 5 weekly summaries written for July, 3 out of
5 weeks recorded above normal rainfall with two of those weeks receiving heavy
rainfall. This was the 4th month straight with above normal rainfall. Rainfall
totals of 6 to 8 inches were common with localized totals of over 10 inches.
Below normal temperatures were reported all 5 weeks with most locations breaking
record cool high temperatures on multiple days. Bowling Green reported this July
as the fourth coolest on record; Paducah, Lexington and Louisville as the second
coolest July on record; and Frankfort as the coolest July on record. This was
the 1st month with below normal temperatures in the past 6 months.
Temperatures for the period averaged 72 degrees across the state which was 4
degrees below normal. High temperatures averaged from 83 in the West to 80 in the
East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 7 degrees below normal
in the West to 6 degrees below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged
from 65 degrees in the West to 63 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.
Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 6.57 inches statewide which was
2.17 inches above normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 7.54
inches, Central 6.78 inches, Bluegrass 5.92 inches and East 6.09 inches, which
was 3.43, 2.26, 1.40 and 1.64 inches respectively above normal. By station,
precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.11 inches at Cape Girardeau to a
high of 9.14 inches at Paducah.
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Kentucky Climate Summary
For the Period June 2009
Above normal temperatures and rainfall...
The wet pattern that has been seen this growing season continued for the 3rd
straight month during June. The lengthy wet periods caused concern with farm
management decisions, field operations, flooding and disease problems.
Temperatures were slightly above normal throughout the Commonwealth during the
final weeks of the Spring season.
Temperatures for the period averaged 74 degrees across the state which was 1.5
degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 87 in the West to 82 in the
East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 0 degrees from normal
in the West to 1 degree below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged
from 66 degrees in the West to 62 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low
temperature ranged from 3 degrees above normal in the West to 0 degrees from
normal in the East.
Rainfall for the period totaled 5.77 inches statewide which was 1.51 inches
above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.22 inches, Central
7.56 inches, Bluegrass 5.69 inches and East 6.49 inches, which was respectively
0.77 inches below normal, 3.20 inches above normal 1.34 inches above normal and
2.14 inches above normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of
1.50 inches at Mayfield to a high of 9.24 inches at Louisville.
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Kentucky Climate Summary
For the Period May 2009
Slightly Above Normal Temperatures and Above Normal Rainfall:
The big story for the weather for May 2009 was the lack of significant dry
weather periods. The result was a very slow-to-start growing and planting
season. In addition, the lengthy wet periods caused concern with farm management
decisions, field operations, flooding and disease problems. The third week of
May was the only week in May that was mostly dry, which allowed field operations
to advance where fields were not flooded. The wet conditions started back in
March and continued thru the spring season. Flooding was common across the state
with some eastern locations receiving over 10 inches of rainfall for May 2009.
Preliminary data indicated it was the 20th wettest May in the past 115 years.
Temperatures for May 2009 averaged 64.9 degrees across the state which was 0.5
degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 76 in the West to 74 in the
East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 5 degrees below normal
in the West to 1 degree below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged
from 57 degrees in the West to 56 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low
temperature ranged from 1 degree above normal in the West to 1 degree above
normal in the East.
Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 6.33 inches statewide which was
1.28 inches above normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 6.53
inches, Central 6.78 inches, Bluegrass 5.20 inches and East 6.60 inches, which
was 1.54, 1.52, 0.29 and 1.75 inches respectively from normal. By station,
precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.73 inches at Buckhorn Lake to a high
of 9.22 inches at Jackson.
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Kentucky Climate Summary: For April 2009
Slightly Above Normal Temperatures and Rainfall:
After two months of below normal rainfall for the Bluegrass state for February
and March, April 2009 experienced closer to normal precipitation and
temperatures with generally wet conditions for the start of the planting season.
During the final week of the month temperatures rose into the 80s for 5 days on
gusty southerly winds which opened up opportunities for some field work as
fields dried.
Temperatures for the period averaged 55.5 degrees across the state which was 0.3
degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 68 in the West to 67 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 48
degrees in the West to 48 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low
temperature ranged from 1 degree above normal in the West to 2 degrees above
normal in the East.
Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 4.51 inches statewide which was
0.32 inches above normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 5.07
inches, Central 4.81 inches, Bluegrass 4.97 inches and East 3.89 inches, which
was 0.54, 0.61, 1.08 and 0.06 inches respectively above normal. By station,
precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.56 inches at Bristol to a high of
6.97 inches at Hardinsburg.
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Kentucky Climate Summary: For the Period March 2009
Above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall...
Although rainfall amounts did increase towards the end of the period, rainfall
was still below normal by over an inch for the month. This created a deficit in
rainfall for 2009 thus far as March was the 2nd straight month with below normal
rainfall. Temperatures during the period were above normal for the 2nd straight
month as well, which created a biological progression as field operations began
throughout much of the Bluegrass State.
Temperatures for the period averaged 48 degrees across the state which was 2
degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 62 in the West to 59 in the
East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degree above normal
in the West to 5 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged
from 42 degrees in the West to 39 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low
temperature ranged from 6 degrees above normal in the West to 5 degrees above
normal in the East.
Rainfall for the period totaled 3.43 inches statewide which was
1.14 inches below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.35
inches, Central 3.35 inches, Bluegrass 2.53 inches and East 3.14 inches, which
was 1.33, 1.53, 1.82 and 0.26 inches respectively below normal. By station,
precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.21 inches at Louisville to a high of
5.17 inches at Henderson.
For the Monthly rainfall departure from normal, click here.
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Kentucky Climate Summary: For the Period February 2009
Below normal rainfall and near noraml temperatures...
The Commonwealth recieved below normal rainfall during the period for the 1st
time in 3 months. This was due in large part to the track of several storm
systems. During December and January, many weather systems were tracking
directly through the Ohio Valley; in February, however, weather systems began
tracking south of the Ohio Valley. The month also proved to be a trend-breaker
for temperatures in the Bluegrass State as well. February was the 1st month in
the past 5 when below normal temperatures were not reported.
Temperatures for the period averaged 38 degrees across the state which was near
normal. High temperatures averaged from 48 in the West to 48 in the East.
Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 3 degrees below normal in
the West to 3 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from
31 degrees in the West to 30 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.
Rainfall for the period totaled 2.67 inches statewide which was 1.08 inches
below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.08 inches, Central
2.92 inches, Bluegrass 2.61 inches and East 2.23 inches, which was 0.96, 1.21,
0.83 and 1.24 inches respectively below normal. By station, rainfall totals
ranged from a low of 0.95 inches at Buckhorn Lake to a high of 3.89 inches at
Evansville.
For the Monthly rainfall departure from normal, click here.
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Kentucky Climate Summary: For the Period January 2009
Above normal rainfall and below normal temperatures...
The new year began just as 2008 ended...with above normal rainfall. Multiple
weather systems that originated in Canada plunged into the Ohio Valley and
provided the Commonwealth with a mixed bag of wintry precipitation throughout
the month. In fact, the month ended with a winter storm that inundated the
Bluegrass State with ice and caused over 600,000 to lose power. Some areas
received a combination of over an inch of ice plus 6 inches of snow and sleet
from this one storm. The arctic air masses that invaded the region thoughout
most of the period caused the winter to remain colder than average as January
was the 4th straight month to report below normal temperatures.
Temperatures for the period averaged 30 degrees across the state which was 3
degrees below normal. High temperatures averaged from 39 in the West to 38 in the
East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 5 degrees below normal
in the West to 1 degree below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged
from 23 degrees in the West to 23 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low
temperature ranged from 2 degrees below normal in the West to 1 degree above
normal in the East.
Rainfall for the period totaled 5.09 inches statewide which was 1.37 inches
above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 4.26 inches, Central
5.67 inches, Bluegrass 4.64 inches and East 5.61 inches, which was 0.55, 1.65,
1.20 and 1.91 inches respectively above normal. By station, precipitation totals
ranged from a low of 0.42 inches at Cape Girardeau to a high of 7.22 inches at
Glasgow.