KENTUCKY MONTHLY AND ANNUAL CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR -- 1999 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. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: December 1999* ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL PRECIP: Drought conditions continued to plague the Bluegrass state as the lack of rainfall amounts for the month fell BELOW NORMAL. Temperatures, on the other hand were generally very mild for the majority of the month, execpt the final week to 10 days of the month where very cold air dominated. Temperatures for the month averaged 40 degrees across the state which was 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL and 11 degrees cooler than the previous month. High temperatures averaged from 49 in the West to 50 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 6 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 1 degree ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 7 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 3.49 inches statewide which was 0.73 inches BELOW NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 4.08 inches, Central 4.35 inches, Bluegrass 2.94 inches and East 2.58 inches, which was 0.38, 0.20, 0.85 and 1.49 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.33 inches at Bristol to a high of 5.64 inches at Louisville. * Based on preliminary data. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: November 1999* Tom Priddy U.K. Ag. Weather Center ABOVE NORMAL Temperatures and BELOW NORMAL Rainfall: Temperatures for November 1999 averaged 51 degrees across the state which was 5 degrees ABOVE NORMAL but 6 degrees cooler than the previous month. Temperatures were so mild that the first 28 days of the month as a whole broke records back to 1895. But record-setting pace changed as the final few days of November were very cool...lowering the average for the month. With the cooler temperatures the month of November 1999 ranked as the 13th warmest November since 1895. High temperatures averaged from 65 in the West to 63 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 6 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 7 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 41 degrees in the West to 39 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. Drought conditions continued to plague the Bluegrass State. At the beginning of November, the Central and Bluegrass areas were in SEVERE drought, West and East climate zone areas of the state were in MODERATE drought. Due to the lack of rainfall...by month's end the Bluegrass area had deteriorated to EXTREME drought; West and Central were in SEVERE drought; and East had improve slightly to MODERATE drought according to the Palmer Drought Severity Index. Rainfall for November 1999 totaled 2.53 inches statewide which was 1.50 inches BELOW NORMAL...just over 60 percent of normal rainfall and the 29th driest November back to 1895. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 1.92 inches, Central 2.46 inches, Bluegrass 2.40 inches and East 3.17 inches, which was 2.49, 1.84, 1.33 and 0.60 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.51 inches at Evansville to a high of 4.21 inches at Cumberland Gap. --- * Based on preliminary data. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: October 1999 NEAR NORMAL Temperatures and SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL Rainfall: October 1999 would have been a dry month had it not been for one rainfall event on Oct 8/9th. But due to that significant, state- wide rainfall during early October, drought conditions eased from the SEVERE/EXTREME drought conditions that gripped the state at the beginning of the month...to MODERATE/SEVERE at mid-month and for the remainder of the month. By week, temperatures were generally mild. Unseasonably cool weather on October 24/25th caused scattered frost across the state. Several locations dropped into the mid-to-upper 20's. Temperatures for October 1999 averaged 57 degrees across the state which was NEAR NORMAL and 10 degrees cooler than September. High temperatures averaged from 73 in the West to 70 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures were 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL across the state. Low temperatures averaged from 45 degrees in the West to 44 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 1 degrees from normal in the East. Extreme high temperatures occurred at Louisville which reported 85 degrees on Oct 13th. Extreme lows were in the mid 20's during the final week of October. Rainfall for October 1999 totaled 3.25 inches statewide which was 0.35 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 3.70 inches, Central 2.99 inches, Bluegrass 2.80 inches and East 3.38 inches, which was 0.67, 0.07, 0.06 and 0.50 inches respectively ABOVE NORMAL. By station, monthly rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.64 inches at Lexington to a high of 4.07 inches at Paducah. Widespread, heavy rainfall, the most since Jan. 1999...occurred across the Commonwealth on Friday/Saturday (Oct 8/9) with rainfall amounts of one and one half to two inches common and many West and Central locations receiving upwards of 3 and 4 inches (Paducah 4.04", Lake Barkley 4.00"). In South Central Kentucky the heaviest amounts fell centered around Adair county. Significant rainfall totals of over two inches stretched from the Wayne and Mccreary borders with Tennessee through Laurel and Pulaski counties. Over two inches of rain was received in the Lee, Estill, Wolfe, Meniffee and Powell counties. For Eastern Kentucky, the highest storm total was found in Heidelberg where a total of 3.05 inches of rain fell with the least amount near the Virginia border. Greatest 24-hour rainfall totals for the NWS offices were at Louisville and Jackson with 2.30 and 2.32 inches, respectively. Kentucky 10/ 1/1999 to 10/31/1999 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 58.6 58.5 0.1 3.70 3.03 0.67 122 2 58.3 57.4 0.9 2.99 2.92 0.07 103 3 56.2 56.3 -0.1 2.80 2.73 0.06 102 4 56.0 55.9 0.1 3.38 2.88 0.50 118 State 57.2 57.0 0.2 3.25 2.89 0.35 112 --- Kentucky Climate Summary: September 1999* ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL: Driest July, August and September in Kentucky this Century! Drought conditions continued during September 1999 making it the 13th driest this century and placing most of the state in EXTREME drought according to the Palmer Drought Index. But the statistic that may be remembered most for 1999 is that July thru September was the DRIEST this century for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Listed below are the rankings of the five driest year's for the period July thru Sept. (1895 to 1999): RANK YEAR JUL thru SEPT RAINFALL 1 1999 5.74 2 1983 5.93 3 1930 6.06 4 1953 6.50 5 1919 7.17 Temperatures for September 1999 averaged 69 degrees across the state which was 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL but 7 degrees cooler than August. High temperatures averaged from 86 in the West to 82 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 5 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 54 degrees in the West to 53 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the East. The half of September was very hot with extreme temperatures near 100 degrees from Western sections of the state. The second half of the month was considerably cooler than the first half. Some Northern and Western locations recorded RECORD lows on Tuesday Sept. 22nd (Covington 36, Paducah 38 degrees). Rainfall for the month totaled 1.35 inches statewide which was 2.19 inches BELOW NORMAL. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 1.00 inches, Central 1.64 inches, Bluegrass 1.47 inches and East 1.35 inches, which was 2.46, 2.21, 1.94 and 2.22 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.12 inches at Hardinsburg to a high of 2.59 inches at Berea. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: For August 1999* Drought Conditions Deepen across Kentucky during August 1999: Dry conditions and very warm temperatures with lengthy spells of hot weather dominated Kentucky's weather for August 1999 which was 4 degrees cooler and near 1/2 inch drier than July 1999. Each week during August had ABOVE NORMAL temperatures and BELOW NORMAL rainfall. According to the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), the month started with moderate drought conditions only in the Bluegrass and Eastern (climate zones) area...Central in mild drought...and near normal long-term moisture conditions in the West. By month's end, West, Central and Bluegrass climate zones were in Severe drought...with Bluegrass very near the Extreme drought category. Eastern KY (climate zone) had improved slightly to the Moderate drought category according to the PDSI. Additionally, the Western climate zone tied 1953 as the second driest August and only August of 1983 was drier. But rainfall on Aug 24/25 in Eastern KY give Jackson KY 4.12 inches of rain for the 2 day period. For the month as a whole, statewide temperatures for August 1999 averaged 76 degrees across the state which was 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 90 in the West to 87 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 63 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 NEAR NORMAL in the East. Several locations reached or exceeded 100 degrees on the 12th for extreme high temperatures. Extreme lows were in the low 50's on the 31st. Statewide rainfall for August 1999 totaled 1.92 inches statewide which was 1.93 inches BELOW NORMAL which was the eighth driest August based on the period 1895 to present. August 1999 was drier than August of 1930 (1.94") but not as dry as August 1925 (1.27") which was the driest on record...or August 1998 (1.89"). Rainfall totals by climate division, West 0.87 inches, Central 1.60 inches, Bluegrass 1.92 inches and East 2.96 inches, which was -2.81, -2.25, -2.08 and -0.91 inches respectively from normal. By station, rainfall totals for the month ranged from a low of 0.12 inches at Mayfield to a high of 6.58 inches at Jackson. August 1999 Kentucky Weather ----------------- AIR TEMPERATURE ---------------- -- SOD-- NO. OF DAYS 4" TEMP AVERAGE EXTREME AVG DEPART MAX MIN AVERAGE MAX MIN AVG MAX MIN FROM NORM >=90 <=32 MAX MIN Bardstown 89 63 76 97 50 +1 13 0 82 77 Berea 89 62 75 97 52 -1 12 0 78 74 Bowling G 92 66 79 100 55 +2 22 0 .. .. Buckhorn L 87 63 75 100 54 +1 9 0 .. .. Covington 84 62 73 93 54 -2 4 0 .. .. Cumberland G 88 63 75 96 52 +1 12 0 81 77 Glasgow 93 64 78 100 54 +1 24 0 76 73 Hardinsburg 91 64 78 99 54 +2 20 0 79 76 Henderson 88 62 75 95 50 -1 12 0 81 78 Huntington 86 62 74 99 50 -0 9 0 .. .. Jackson 84 64 74 95 55 +1 4 0 .. .. Lexington 88 64 76 98 54 +1 13 0 .. .. London 87 63 75 97 52 +1 11 0 .. .. Louisville 88 64 76 98 54 +0 14 0 .. .. Mayfield 91 64 78 98 56 +1 19 0 81 76 Paducah 91 63 77 100 51 -1 21 0 80 78 Princeton 94 64 79 101 52 +2 27 0 85 79 Quicksand 86 61 74 97 47 +1 8 0 85 83 Somerset 88 63 76 97 53 +2 15 0 80 76 Spindletop 87 63 75 96 53 +0 12 0 84 73 Williamstown 88 63 76 96 53 +2 12 0 83 76 ------------------------ PRECIPITATION----------------------- DEPARTURE GREATEST FROM CUMULATIVE 24 HOUR % RAIN NO. DAYS YEAR MONTH TOTAL NORMAL TOTAL DEPARTURE TOTAL DAYS >=.01 Bardstown 1.14 -2.79 1.14 -2.79 0.89 13 4 Berea 2.31 -1.68 2.31 -1.68 0.81 19 6 Bowling G 0.99 -2.52 0.99 -2.52 0.97 3 1 Buckhorn L 3.48 -0.17 3.48 -0.17 1.08 29 9 Covington 2.85 -0.50 2.85 -0.50 1.34 19 6 Cumberland G 2.68 -1.65 2.68 -1.65 1.29 19 6 Glasgow 1.05 -2.98 1.05 -2.98 1.00 10 3 Hardinsburg 0.57 -3.21 0.57 -3.21 0.50 6 2 Henderson 1.36 -1.81 1.36 -1.81 1.33 6 2 Huntington 5.31 +1.37 5.31 +1.37 3.51 23 7 Jackson 6.58 +2.61 6.58 +2.61 4.03 19 6 Lexington 0.99 -2.94 0.99 -2.94 0.55 16 5 London 3.59 +0.28 3.59 +0.28 2.01 16 5 Louisville 0.97 -2.57 0.97 -2.57 0.78 10 3 Mayfield 0.12 -3.71 0.12 -3.71 0.12 3 1 Paducah 0.54 -2.80 0.54 -2.80 0.44 6 2 Princeton 1.00 -3.01 1.00 -3.01 0.62 10 3 Quicksand 5.21 +1.20 5.21 +1.20 3.75 23 7 Somerset 2.79 -1.13 2.79 -1.13 1.86 23 7 Spindletop 1.31 -2.62 1.31 -2.62 0.55 16 5 Williamstown 1.93 -1.80 1.93 -1.80 0.81 16 5 * = Based on preliminary data --- Kentucky Monthly Climate Summary: For July 1999* 6th Hottest July...6th Driest July on RECORD (to 1895): Temperatures for July 1999 averaged 80 degrees across the state which was 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL and 4 degrees warmer than July 1998....and 2 and one-half degrees warmer than July 1988. Only five July's have been warmer than July 1999; 1901, 1921, 1934, 1936 and July 1930. High temperatures averaged from 91 in the West to 90 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 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. RECORD Low temperatures occurred on the 10/11th in the upper 50's and RECORD High temperatures occurred on the 29/30/31 with highs in the low 100's. Most locations reported 17 plus days with high temperatures at or exceeding 90 degrees. Several locations had 10-15 plus days straight with highs at or exceeding 90(+) degrees. Dry conditions were of concern for most of the month with all four climate zones dipping lower into the Palmer Drought Severity (PDSI) and Crop Moisture Indices (CMI). By month's end...Central, Bluegrass and Eastern locations were in the Moderate drought category of the PDSI...and Western KY was wavering between mild drought and near normal conditions. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 2.44 inches statewide which was -2.15 inches BELOW NORMAL*. July 1999 ranks as the 6th driest July on RECORD (to 1895). Only 1936 (1.36"), 1944 (1.71"), 1901 (1.88"), 1902 (2.07), and 1919 (2.29) were drier. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 2.25 inches, Central 2.10 inches, Bluegrass 2.07 inches and East 3.09 inches, which was -1.80, -2.69, -2.56 and -1.77 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 0.50 inches at Louisville to a high of 4.97 inches at Princeton. * Based on preliminary data from Kentucky's agricultural weather stations and National Weather Service Weather Offices. --- Kentucky Monthly Climate Summary: For June 1999 June 1999...Some Kind of Rollcoaster Ride...Drought across the state...Near Record Low Temps at Mid-Month...Heavy Rains by month's end. On the other hand...the state didn't have any record high temps or much severe weather. Dry conditions during May continued for over half of June 1999 with the Palmer Drought Severity Index dipping into the moderate drought category for the Bluegrass and East Kentucky climate zones. West and Central climate areas only dipped into the mild drought category. By mid-June...crops were suffering with yields in jeopardy. Beneficial rainfall occurred during the latter part of the month which provided timely moisture for crops in most areas of the state...except far Eastern locations which ended the month with BELOW NORMAL rainfall. Slightly ABOVE NORMAL temperatures dominated the month except for NEAR RECORD Low Temperatures on the 18th. Temperatures for June 1999 averaged 74 degrees across the state which was (1 degree) Slightly ABOVE NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 85 in the West to 84 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 1 degree ABOVE 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 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to NEAR NORMAL in the East. Extreme high temperatures were in the low 90's early in the month and extreme lows plunged into the upper 40's to low 50's at mid-month. Rainfall for June 1999 totaled 4.63 inches statewide which was 0.81 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 5.67 inches, Central 5.63 inches, Bluegrass 3.97 inches and East 3.25 inches, which was +2.00, +1.69, +0.22 and -0.68 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.42 inches at Huntington to a high of 8.42 inches at Louisville. --- Kentucky Monthly Climate Summary: For May 1999 BELOW NORMAL Rainfall and NEAR NORMAL Temperatures: Dry conditions from previous months continued during May 1999 with only 65 percent of normal rainfall received during the month making this month the 22nd driest May in the past 105 years (1941: 1.15 in.). By month's end...at least one climate zone (Bluegrass area) was considered in the MODERATE Drought catagory and the Eastern Climate zone was very near the MODERATE Drought Index value, according to the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). Although lengthy periods of generally mild temperatures occurred, no oppressively hot weather occurred during May 1999 and, in fact, cooler than normal temperatures (-5 degrees) during the entire final week of the month lowered the monthly average temperature from the above normal catagory to near normal. But not cool enough to be considered in the top 10 coolest month...because this month was only the 27th coolest May in the past 105 years (coolest: 58 degrees in 1917) and 3 degrees cooler than May of 1998. Temperatures for May 1999 averaged 66 degrees across the state which was NEAR NORMAL and 7 degrees warmer than the previous month. High temperatures averaged from 79 in the West to 78 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 54 degrees in the West to 52 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the East. Rainfall for June 1999 totaled 2.91 inches statewide which was 1.79 inches BELOW NORMAL. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.09 inches, Central 3.40 inches, Bluegrass 2.22 inches and East 2.94 inches, which was 1.81, 1.51, 2.31 and 1.52 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.19 inches at Williamstown to a high of 4.72 inches at Somerset. --- Kentucky Monthly Climate Summary: For April 1999 A Mild and Drier than normal April except Wetter in Western sections: Kentucky continued to experience roller-coaster temperatures and drier than normal conditions except where wetter conditions occurred in Western sections of the state. Average temperatures in April 1999 reversed the below normal temperatures of March. Temperatures for April 1999 averaged 59 degrees across the state which was 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL and 4 degrees warmer than April 1998. High temperatures averaged from 70 in the West to 71 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degree BELOW 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 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Extreme high temperatures were in the low to mid 80's and extreme low temperatures were in the low to mid 30's. Southeast sections of the state reported a few frosty mornings, but the remainder of the state reported no freezes (days with low temps. equal to or less than 32 degrees). The drier than normal conditions of March continued during April except in Western sections of the state. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for April 1999 totaled 3.70 inches statewide which was 0.52 inches BELOW NORMAL and over 4 inches drier than April 1998. No measurable snow was reported. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 5.55 inches, Central 3.29 inches, Bluegrass 2.34 inches and East 3.61 inches, which was +0.95, -1.01, -1.68 and -0.33 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.78 inches at Bowling Green to a high of 6.40 inches at Paducah. --- Kentucky Monthly Climate Summary: For March 1999 BELOW NORMAL Temperatures and Precipitation: Unlike the first two months of 1999, March was drier and cooler than previous months....except for February which was only slightly cooler. In fact...March of 1999 was more below normal than the previous 14 months...including February. Temperatures for the March 1999 averaged 42 degrees across the state which was 3 degrees BELOW NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 54 in the West to 53 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 7 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 1 degree BELOW NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 33 degrees in the West to 32 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 3 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the East. Record breaking high temperatures occurred on the 17th (74 at Louisville, Jackson) and were in the mid-70's. Extreme low temperatures only managed to get down to 14 degrees (Covington) on the 11th. Soil temperatures at four inches under a Bluegrass cover were averaging in the upper 40's in Eastern areas and in the low-to-mid 50's West. Also at month's end, Alfalfa Weevil Degree Day accumulations ranged from 119 at Covington to Princeton's 321 AWDD's. At the beginning of March, soils were well saturated statewide...but declined to the point that some field operations were started...albeit slowly. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 3.06 inches statewide which was 1.52 inches BELOW NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 3.10 inches, Central 3.65 inches, Bluegrass 2.58 inches and East 2.92 inches, which was 1.87, 1.03, 1.82 and 1.35 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.66 inches at Henderson to a high of 4.45 inches at Glasgow. Very little snowfall occurred over all but Southeast sections of the state. Lexington reported one-tenth of an inch and Louisville reported four tenths of an inch. Jackson reported 2.2 inches but some extreme Southeast locations reported near 6 inches. --- Kentucky Monthly Climate Summary: For February 1999 ABOVE NORMAL Temperatures Continued from previous month... Precipitation BELOW NORMAL: Temperatures for February 1999 averaged 42 degrees across the state which was 6 degrees ABOVE NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 53 in the West to 52 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 34 degrees in the West to 32 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 7 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 6 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Extreme high temperatures were in the mid 70's on the 10 and 11th of February with new records set. Extreme low temperatures were in the mid teens. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for February 1999 totaled 2.70 inches statewide which was 0.83 inches BELOW NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.16 inches, Central 3.25 inches, Bluegrass 2.80 inches and East 2.59 inches, which was 1.62, 0.57, 0.24 and 0.87 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.43 inches at Berea to a high of 4.19 inches at Covington. Monthly snowfall totals ranged from 1 to 4 inches across the state with slightly higher amounts in Southeast sections of the state. --- Kentucky Monthly Climate Summary: January 1999 Cold Temperatures the First Half, Very Mild the Second Half of January....Very Wet with Freezing Rain, Snow and Sleet: Very mild temperatures the second half January completely offset a very cold start to 1999 with monthly average temperatures considerably ABOVE NORMAL. And along with the cold temperatures during the first two weeks of January were several snow events across the state. Temperatures for January 1999 averaged 38 degrees across the state which was 6 degrees ABOVE NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 46 in the West to 49 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 10 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 29 degrees in the West to 30 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 9 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 6.57 inches statewide which was 3.38 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Only the third week of the month received below normal precipitation. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 7.24 inches, Central 7.64 inches, Bluegrass 5.04 inches and East 6.36 inches, which was 4.05, 4.24, 2.27 and 2.92 inches respectively ABOVE NORMAL. By station, precipitation (liq.equ.) totals ranged from a low of 4.11 inches at Covington to a high of 10.14 inches at Cape Girardeau. Monthly snowfall totals ranged from 1.6 inches at Paducah, 3.5 inches at Louisville's NWS Office, Lexington 1.4 inches, Jackson 5.1 inches. ---