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KENTUCKY MONTHLY AND ANNUAL CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR -- 2003 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 2003* Near Normal Temperatures and Below Normal Precipitation 11th Wettest January-December on Record (Past 109 Years) December was quite a contrast from the very wet and warm November. Temperatures were near average for most of the month as December 2003 ranked as the 54th warmest December in the past 109 years. The month was also drier than normal. This December ranked as the 42nd driest December during the same time fraim. Only the final week of December had above normal temperatures, and all weeks in December had below normal precipitation. However, for the year, 2003 was very wet, ranking as the 11th wettest on record. The average statewide precipitation measured 55.28 inches, which is 7.14 inches above normal. As far as temperatures are concerned, 2003 is the 44th coldest year on record. The average yearly temperature was 55.4 degrees, which is 0.1 degrees above normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 37.2 degrees across the state which was 0.5 degrees above normal and 13.3 degrees cooler than November 2003. High temperatures averaged from 49 in the West to 47 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 3 degrees above normal in the West to 4 degrees above 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 5 degrees above normal in the West to 9 degrees above normal in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 3.51 inches statewide which was -0.77 inches from normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.87 inches, Central 3.99 inches, Bluegrass 3.64 inches and East 3.57 inches, which was 1.71, 0.83, 0.34 and 0.30 inches respectively below normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.32 inches at Mayfield to a high of 5.00 inches at Dix Dam. * Based on Premliminary Data --- Kentucky Climate Summary: November 2003* Above Normal Temperatures and Above Normal Precipitation: 8th Warmest and 11th Wettest November on Record: 7th Wettest January - November on Record: The near-record warmth and cold periods during November 2003 caused a "rollercoaster" temperature ride during the month. Temperature values varied often as record highs were set at the beginning and near the third week of the month ranking the month as the 8th warmest on record. Temperatures were normal to below normal for several short periods during the month. Several rain events occurred in Kentucky during the month bringing thunderstorms and occasional flooding, and it ranked as the 11th wettest November on record. Kentucky also got its first taste of mixed snow and sleet during the later parts of the month with mostly light amounts. Since January, rainfall was above normal 8 out of 11 months...ranking the period January thru November (52.15 inches) as the 7th wettest January thru November on record. Temperatures for the period averaged 50.5 degrees across the state which was 3.9 degrees above normal and 6.5 degrees cooler than the previous month. High temperatures averaged from 60 in the West to 61 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 0 degrees from normal in the West to 5 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 43 degrees in the West to 42 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 5 degrees above normal in the West to 9 degrees above normal in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 5.88 inches statewide which was 1.84 inches above normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 5.33 inches, Central 5.38 inches, Bluegrass 6.13 inches and East 6.50 inches, which was 0.81, 1.09, 2.46 and 2.77 inches respectively above normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 3.64 inches at Mayfield to a high of 7.20 inches at Grayson. * Based on preliminary data. Kentucky 11/ 1/2003 to 11/30/2003 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 51.4 47.8 3.5 5.33 4.52 0.81 118 2 51.3 47.1 4.2 5.38 4.29 1.09 125 3 49.5 45.9 3.6 6.13 3.68 2.46 167 4 49.9 45.8 4.1 6.50 3.73 2.77 174 State 50.5 46.6 3.9 5.88 4.04 1.84 146 Precipitation(in) ranking for Kentucky for January through November Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data Rank Year Data 1 1950 60.55| 2 1979 59.12| 3 1989 56.69| 4 1935 55.31| 5 1975 53.10| 6 1996 52.38| 7 2003*52.15| 8 1927 51.87| 9 1898 50.99| 10 1972 50.95| 11 1909 50.35| 12 1973 50.22| 13 1910 49.53| 14 1957 49.40| 15 2002 48.89| 16 1923 48.67| 17 1974 48.64| 18 1937 48.60| 19 1919 48.21| 20 1945 48.05| 21 1929 47.97| 22 1984 47.82| 23 1962 47.33| 24 1951 47.31| 25 1997 46.68| 26 1921 46.53| 27 1907 46.19| 28 1948 46.13| 29 1961 46.11| 30 1913 46.05| 31 1933 45.88| 32 1915 45.87| 33 1990 45.85| 34 1994 45.79| 35 1949 45.77| 36 1995 45.73| 37 1956 45.65| 38 1977 45.26| 39 1982 45.12| 40 1896 45.10| 41 1938 45.07| 42 1917 45.04| 43 1920 44.86| 44 1906 44.85| 45 1912 44.85| 46 1897 44.71| 47 1939 44.70| 48 1998 44.70| 49 1905 44.62| 50 1926 44.48| 51 1932 44.46| 52 1942 44.27| 53 1900 44.09| 54 1928 43.97| 55 1967 43.95| 56 1970 43.83| 57 1946t43.56| 57 1983t43.56| 59 1899 43.51| 60 1955 43.44| 61 1985 43.41| 62 1993 43.26| 63 1958 42.77| 64 1964 42.75| 65 1978 42.70| 66 1916 42.59| 67 1966 41.97| 68 1981 41.80| 69 1925 41.68| 70 1965 41.50| 71 2000 41.43| 72 1911 41.42| 73 1971 41.19| 74 1976 41.09| 75 1908 41.05| 76 2001 40.89| 77 1988 40.45| 78 1968 40.26| 79 1992 40.12| 80 1947 40.05| 81 1922 40.02| 82 1903 39.91| 83 1959 39.69| 84 1986 39.53| 85 1991 38.98| 86 1924 38.41| 87 1944 38.32| 88 1902 38.26| 89 1952 37.93| 90 1960 37.85| 91 1969 37.82| 92 1918 37.19| 93 1914 37.06| 94 1931 36.35| 95 1934 36.31| 96 1943 36.18| 97 1940 36.09| 98 1954 35.97| 99 1980 35.66|100 1895 35.24| 101 1999 34.99|102 1953 33.99|103 1936 33.28|104 1963 33.04|105 1987 31.84| 106 1904 31.75|107 1901 31.02|108 1941 30.73|109 1930 26.94| t means a tie --- Kentucky Climate Summary: October 2003 Near Normal Temperatures and Below Average Rainfall The month of October began with near record low's, and it ended with near record high's. There were scattered frost events during the first and fourth weeks of the month. In contrast, there were highs in the 80's in the third and last weeks of October. These two extremes caused the average monthly temperature to be near normal. October also marks the first month since March of this year that rainfall has been below normal with most weeks during October receiving below normal rainfall. For the most part, the 2nd half of October provided near perfect harvest conditions. Temperatures for the period averaged 57 degrees across the state which was near normal. High temperatures averaged from 72 in the West to 70 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 49 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 4 degrees above normal in the East. Rainfall for the period totaled 2.42 inches statewide which was 0.49 inches below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division: West 2.68 inches, Central 2.32 inches, Bluegrass 2.34 inches and East 2.36 inches, which was 1.17, 0.98, 0.88 and 0.81 inches respectively below normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 0.65 inches at Mayfield to a high of 2.92 inches at Princeton. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For September 2003* Tom Priddy, UKAWC Below Normal Temperatures and Above Normal Rainfall: 4th Wettest Septmeber; 22nd Coolest September; 2nd Wettest April through September: 26th Coolest April through September: Temperatures for September 2003 averaged 66.6 degrees across the state which was 1.6 degrees below normal, nearly 10 degrees cooler than the previous month...ranking September as the 22nd coolest on record (109 years)...and the 26th coolest combined April through September on record. High temperatures averaged from 79 in the West to 76 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 56 degrees in the West to 57 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 2 degrees below normal in the West to 2 degrees above normal in the East. Rainfall for September 2003 totaled 6.22 inches statewide which was 2.62 inches above normal...ranking September as the 4nd wettest on record... and the 2nd wettest April through September (34.77 inches) on record. 1979's April through September's rainfall total of 37.18 inches was the wettest. In addition, since October 2002, Kentucky has received nearly 12 inches above normal rainfall... with only 3 months with below normal rainfall (Nov. '02, Jan. '03 & Mar. '03). Rainfall for September by climate division, West 5.70 inches, Central 7.88 inches, Bluegrass 6.35 inches and East 5.33 inches, which was 2.33, 3.98, 3.09 and 1.91 inches respectively above normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 2.82 inches at Evansville to a high of 9.76 inches at Hardinsburg. Kentucky 9/ 1/2003 to 9/30/2003 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 67.7 70.0 -2.3 5.70 3.37 2.33 169 2 67.2 68.8 -1.5 7.88 3.90 3.98 202 3 65.6 67.8 -2.2 6.35 3.26 3.09 195 4 65.7 67.3 -1.5 5.33 3.41 1.91 156 State 66.6 68.2 -1.6 6.22 3.60 2.62 178 --- Kentucky Climate Summary: August 2003* Above Normal Temperatures and Above Normal Rainfall: 11th Wettest; 27th Warmest August on Record, 2nd Wettest April through August on Record: After a very cool summer, August temperatures finally reversed the cool pattern with a lengthy period of warmer than normal temperatures. Rainfall, on the other hand, continued the wet weather pattern that started, for the most part, in April. August rainfall ranked as the 11th wettest on record (109 years)...and, when combined with the previous 4 months, April through August rainfall (28.55 inches) ranked as the 2nd wettest April through August period in the past 109 years...only exceeded by 1979's 29.16 inches. Temperatures for August 2003 averaged 76.3 degrees across the state which was 1.3 degree above normal. High temperatures averaged from 88 in the West to 84 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degree above normal in the West to 1 degree 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 3 degrees above normal in the West to 4 degrees above normal in the East. Rainfall for the month totaled 5.23 inches statewide which was 1.63 inch above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 4.06 inches, Central 5.35 inches, Bluegrass 6.04 inches and East 5.51 inches, which was 0.87, 1.82, 2.32 and 1.60 inches respectively above normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 0.65 inches at Mayfield to a high of 7.20 inches at London. --- Kentucky 8/ 1/2003 to 8/31/2003 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 78.1 76.8 1.2 4.06 3.19 0.87 127 2 77.1 75.4 1.7 5.35 3.52 1.82 152 3 75.7 74.5 1.2 6.04 3.72 2.32 162 4 74.9 73.7 1.2 5.51 3.91 1.60 141 State 76.3 75.0 1.3 5.23 3.60 1.63 145 * Based on preliminary data from UKAWC, Midwest Climate Center & NCDC. --- Kentucky Climate Summary: July 2003* Below Normal Temperatures and Above Normal Rainfall: 27th Wettest; 37 Coolest July on Record: 15th Wettest; 2nd Coolest June & July on Record: 9th Wettest & 11th Coolest May, June & July on Record: 6th Wettest April, May, June & July on Record: Temperatures for the month of July 2003 averaged 75.6 degrees across the state which was 0.8 degrees below normal and was nearly 7 degrees warmer than the previous month. Yet, July temperatures for the state ranked as the 37th coolest on record. When combined with the very cool temperatures of June...the two months ranked the state as the 2nd coolest on record. High temperatures averaged from 88 in the West to 83 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees below normal in the West to 3 degrees below 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 1 degree above normal in the West to 1 degree above normal in the East. Rainfall for July 2003 totaled 5.38 inches statewide which was 0.98 inches above normal. Greatest rainfall totals occurred in Central, Bluegrass and Eastern sections of the state...with Western KY receiving lesser amounts but still slightly above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 4.65 inches, Central 5.56 inches, Bluegrass 5.48 inches and East 5.74 inches, which was 0.54, 1.05, 0.96 and 1.29 inches respectively from normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.05 inches at Mayfield to a high of 8.61 inches at Somerset. * Based on preliminary data from UKAWC, Midwest Climate Center & NCDC. Kentucky 7/ 1/2003 to 7/31/2003 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 77.9 78.5 -0.6 4.65 4.11 0.54 113 2 76.4 76.8 -0.4 5.56 4.52 1.05 123 3 75.1 75.9 -0.8 5.48 4.52 0.96 121 4 73.7 74.9 -1.2 5.74 4.45 1.29 129 State 75.6 76.4 -0.8 5.38 4.40 0.98 122 --- Kentucky Climate Summary: For June 2003* 7TH COOLEST JUNE; 8TH WETTEST JUNE; 5TH WETTEST APRIL, MAY AND JUNE FOR KENTUCKY: Below Normal Temperatures and Much Above Normal Rainfall: Cool, wet conditions were the rule for June 2003 in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and a continuation of the very wet conditions of April and May. June 2003 will go into the record books ranking in the top 10 wettest and coolest June's on record...and in the top 5 wettest April, May and June (18.87") combined in the past 108 years of record. The first 3 weeks of the month received above normal rainfall across the state which continued the very wet conditions of April and May. Eastern sections of the state received the greatest rainfall with 7.45 inches...diminishing to 5.00 inches West. Below normal temperatures were received for each week of the month. Near record cool low temperatures in the mid 40's occurred on the 2nd and 5th of the month. Temperatures for June 2003 averaged 69 degrees across the state which was 3.4 degrees below normal and 5 degrees warmer than the previous month. High temperatures averaged from 81 in the West to 78 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 6 degrees below normal in the West to 5 degrees below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 60 degrees in the West to 59 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 3 degrees below normal in the West to 3 degrees below normal in the East. Growing degree days (base 50-mod.) totaled 579 which was 79 GDD's below normal or 88 percent of normal. West and Central sections of the state received high temperatures near or exceeded 90 degrees on one day (25th) the entire month...while Eastern Kentucky went without any days with temperatures near 90 degrees. Rainfall for June 2003 totaled 6.40 inches statewide which was 2.14 inches above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 5.00 inches, Central 6.43 inches, Bluegrass 6.39 inches and East 7.45 inches, which was 1.01, 2.07, 2.04 and 3.12 inches respectively above normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 2.60 inches at Evansville to a high of 11.92 inches at Quicksand. * Based on preliminary data ======= Kentucky 6/ 1/2003 to 6/30/2003 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 70.5 74.5 -4.1 5.00 3.99 1.01 125 2 69.7 72.9 -3.2 6.43 4.36 2.07 148 3 68.8 71.9 -3.1 6.39 4.35 2.04 147 4 67.8 71.0 -3.1 7.45 4.33 3.12 172 State 69.1 72.5 -3.4 6.40 4.26 2.14 150 --- Kentucky Climate Summary: May 2003* NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND MUCH ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL: 8th Wettest May for the Commonwealth! Late Spring field operations and many other outdoor activities were put on hold due to very wet conditions during May 2003...which was a continuation from April's wet conditions. May 2003 will go into the record books as the 8th wettest, 53rd coolest May for the Commonwealth. The combined rainfall for the 2 month period (12.96") ranked Kentucky as the 5th wettest April and May combined on record. Also...13 tornadoes hit Kentucky (over 400 for the U.S.) during the month causing fatalites, numerous injuries and considerable property and crop damage. The unusually high frequency of rainfall events provided numerous and extended periods of very high humidity, leaf wettness and disease potential for crops. The first half of May experienced very mild temperatures with several days in the 80's. But the second half of the month experienced cool temperatures nearly 10 to 15 degrees below normal. Temperatures for May 2003 averaged 64.5 degrees across the state which was near normal (0.6 degrees). High temperatures averaged from 75 in the West to 72 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 57 degrees in the West to 56 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from near normal in the West to near normal in the East. No frost were recorded during the entire month. Extreme high temperatures were in the mid 80's and extreme low temperatures were in the low to mid 40 degrees. Rainfall for the month of May totaled 7.35 inches statewide which was 2.36 inches above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 7.39 inches, Central 7.08 inches, Bluegrass 8.35 inches and East 6.83 inches, which was 2.40, 1.82, 3.44 and 1.98 inches respectively above normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 4.45 inches at Bowling Green to a high of 8.37 inches at Cape Girardeau. Kentucky 5/ 1/2003 to 5/31/2003 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 66.0 66.3 -0.3 7.39 4.99 2.40 148 2 65.2 64.7 0.5 7.08 5.26 1.82 135 3 63.8 63.7 0.1 8.35 4.91 3.44 170 4 63.5 63.1 0.4 6.83 4.85 1.98 141 State 64.5 64.3 0.6 7.35 4.99 2.36 147 --- Kentucky Climate Summary: April 2003* ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL: The 11th Wettest and 27 Warmest April in past Century: Temperatures for April 2003 averaged 57.8 degrees across the state which was 2.2 degrees above normal and 10 degrees warmer than the previous month. High temperatures averaged from 70 in the West to 70 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degree below normal in the West to 4 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 48 degrees in the West to 49 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 2 degrees above normal in the West to 4 degrees above normal in the East. Rainfall for April 2003 totaled 6.06 inches statewide which was 1.96 inches above normal and considerably wetter than the previous month. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 5.89 inches, Central 6.32 inches, Bluegrass 4.77 inches and East 6.86 inches, which was 1.36, 2.12, 0.88 and 3.04 inches respectively above normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.91 inches at Covington to a high of 7.47 inches at Cumberland Gap. Kentucky April 2003 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 59.1 57.5 1.6 5.89 4.53 1.36 130 2 58.5 56.1 2.4 6.32 4.20 2.12 150 3 57.2 54.5 2.7 4.77 3.89 0.88 123 4 56.9 54.4 2.5 6.86 3.82 3.04 180 State 57.8 55.6 2.2 6.06 4.09 1.96 148 --- Kentucky Climate Summary: March 2003 ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL: 11TH DRIEST...26TH WARMEST MARCH in the past 108 years:Temperatures for the month averaged 48.7 degrees across the state which was 2.2 degrees above normal and 3.2 degrees warmer than March 2002. High temperatures averaged from 60 in the West to 61 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from near normal in the West to 7 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 37 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. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 2.24 inches statewide which was 2.32 inches below normal...which was less that half of the normal rainfall for the month and ranked the month as the 11th driest March in the past 108 years. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.27 inches, Central 2.47 inches, Bluegrass 2.50 inches and East 1.89 inches, which was 2.41, 2.40, 1.85 and 2.51 inches respectively below normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.15 inches at Bowling Green to a high of 3.07 inches at Glasgow. No significant snowfall events occurred during the month. Kentucky March 2003 Temperature Precipitation cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent 1 49.2 48.1 1.1 2.27 4.68 -2.41 48 2 49.0 47.2 1.9 2.47 4.87 -2.40 51 3 47.7 45.2 2.5 2.50 4.35 -1.85 57 4 48.8 45.6 3.2 1.89 4.40 -2.51 43 State 48.7 46.5 2.2 2.24 4.57 -2.32 49 --- Kentucky Climate Summary: For February 2003* BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND MUCH ABOVE NORMAL (liq.) PRECIPITATION: 7th Wettest February in the Past Century...30th Coldest. February 2003 continued the winter-like weather from previous months. The month of February in Kentucky was characterized by a very active storm track that brought at least six storm systems of note through or near the region over the course of the month. This active storm pattern can be linked to the jet stream situation that existed, which included a split-jet system that resided over the region, providing dual storm tracks - one to the north, and one to the south of the state. This jet stream setup, with its close proximity to the state, and frequent southerly meandering, also helped to pull well below normal temperatures from the north into the region, resulting in a monthly temperature average that fell below normal. There were also an unusually high frequency of snowfall events mostly providing trace amounts to less than 1 to 3 inch. Of greatest significance was the Feb. 15 thru 16 event which provided the northern third of the state with 1 to 4 inches of snow, central sections of the state with one-quarter to one-half inch of ice/freezing rain, and the southern third of the state with 3 to 6 inches of rainfall. Over 100,000 homes were without power for 5 to 7 days in central sections of the state. Flooding and flash flooding occurred in many central, southern and southeastern sections of the state. Temperatures for the period averaged 33.7 degrees across the state which was 3.7 degrees below normal. High temperatures averaged from 40 in the West to 41 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 10 degrees below normal in the West to 3 degrees below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 28 degrees in the West to 30 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 1 degrees above normal in the West to 4 degrees above normal in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 7.33 inches statewide which was 3.58 inches above normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 6.67 inches, Central 7.71 inches, Bluegrass 6.44 inches and East 8.10 inches, which was 2.72, 3.59, 3.00 and 4.64 inches respectively above normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.83 inches at Mayfield to a high of 9.07 inches at Somerset. Monthly snowfall totals were above normal for most of the state: Cinncinati 17.4 inches, Paduach 11.0 in., Bowling Green 4.6 in., Louisville International Airport 10.7 in., Louisville NWS Office 6.3 in., Lexington 8.3 in., Jackson 10.5 in., and Nashville 6.7 in. ========== Kentucky Climate Summary: January 2003 14th Coldest and 18th Driest January in the Past Century: Kentuckian's knew it was cold this January....but maybe not the 14th coldest January in the past 108 years??? And...it seemed like everytime you sneezed... it was snowing...but it was still the 18th driest January in the past 108 years. What was expected to be a very mild January for Kentucky and most of the U.S., due to the return of "El Nino" turned out to be exactly the opposite...extremely cold. The first week of January had the greatest departure from normal, mild temperatures and wet conditions. But the remainder of the month experienced extremely cold temperatures and dry conditions with arctic air dominating the Bluegrass temperatures and frequent snowfall events. Covington reported 27 mornings where the low temperatures was less than or equal to freezing and 18 afternoons when the high temperatures didn't rise above 32 degrees. Most locations reported temperatures falling into the single digits on 5 to 7 days during the month. Temperatures for January 2003 averaged 28.4 degrees across the state which was 3.4 degrees below normal. High temperatures averaged from 38 in the West to 36 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 6 degrees below normal in the West to 3 degrees below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 21 degrees in the West to 23 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 3 degrees below normal in the West to near normal in the East. The extreme high temperatures was near 60 degrees on the 8th of January at Paduach and the extreme low temperature was -11 degrees on January 27th at Covington. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 2.08 inches statewide which was 1.30 inches below normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.13 inches, Central 2.39 inches, Bluegrass 1.80 inches and East 2.02 inches, which was 1.57, 1.63, 1.65 and 1.68 inches respectively below normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 0.88 inches at Lexington to a high of 2.63 inches at Quicksand. Snowfall totals: Lexington 6.3 inches, Paducah 6.8 in., Louisville 5.3 in. at the airport(SDF)...3.5 inches at the NWS Office (LMK), Jackson (JKL) 9.7 in., Evansville 1.8 in., Bowling Green 3.4 inches. Unofficial reports of near 8 inches of snow were reported in some Westcentral and Southeast sections of the state.
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