KENTUCKY MONTHLY AND ANNUAL CLIMATE
SUMMARY FOR -- 2000
By: Tom Priddy, Erin Maxwell--UK Agricultural Weather Center
* Based on Preliminary Data. Graphs of Kentucky Monthly Temperature
and Rainfall available at:
http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/climgraphs/
and weekly graphs available within the UKAWC Kentucky Weather Information
Web site.
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: December 2000
BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION:
December 2000 will go into the record books as the FOURTH COLDEST
December for the state of Kentucky in the past 106 years. The coldest
December was in 1989 with an average temperature of 25.3 degrees.
For several locations, it was the coldest December on record:
Paducah, Louisville, Lexington and Jackson all reported record-
breaking cold temperatures for December. Numerous Arctic cold
fronts moved through the Ohio Valley during the month providing
snowcover and bitter cold temperatures for much of the month.
Some Eastern locations reported greater than 20 days with snowcover.
Freezing temperatures started on December 17 and stayed below
freezing for the remainder of the month. Near-record high temperatures
and rainfall ocurred on December 16th. Also noteworthy...for the
period November and December 2000...it was the second coldest on
record with an average temperature of 35.1 degrees...only beat out
by November and December of 1917 with an average temperature of 34.3
degrees. The warmest November thru December period was in 1931 with
an average temperature of 49.5 degrees.
Temperatures for the month averaged 26.3 degrees across the state
which was 10.2 degrees BELOW NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from
33 in the West to 36 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures
ranged from 14 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 9 degrees BELOW NORMAL
in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 19 degrees in the West to 22
degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from
10 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the East.
Extreme high temperatures were in the upper 50's to low 60's and
extreme low temperatures were in the single digits both positive and
negative.
Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 4.50 inches statewide
which was 1.05 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division,
West 3.87 inches, Central 4.72 inches, Bluegrass 4.76 inches and East 4.63
inches, which was -0.74, -0.06, 0.79 and 0.79 inches respectively from NORMAL.
By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.49 inches at
Mayfield to a high of 5.03 inches at Glasgow. Considerable snowfall occurred
across the Commonwealth during the month with some locations reporting
record monthly snowfall totals. Paducah received a record 6.8 inches,
Louisville 13.9 inches (the most in 61 years in December), Lexington 5.8
inches, Jackson 10.0 inches.
Kentucky
12/ 1/2000 to 12/31/2000
Temperature Precipitation
cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent
1 26.1 37.5 -11.5 3.87 4.61 -0.74 84
2 26.1 37.4 -11.3 4.72 4.79 -0.06 99
3 24.9 36.1 -11.2 4.76 3.97 0.79 120
4 27.5 36.7 -9.3 4.63 3.84 0.79 121
State 26.3 36.5 -10.2 4.50 4.27 0.23 105
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: November 2000
BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION:
November 2000 was the coldest November since 1991 and will go into the
record books as the 32nd coldest November for the past 106 years and the
41st driest November since 1896. Both near-record high temperatures AND
near-record low's occurred during the month. On November 2nd high
temperatures soared into the low 80's (Paducah 83), and on November
22nd low temperatures plunged into the mid to upper teens. For some
locations both of these extremes were record events. The first week
of November received above normal temperatures, but the remainder of
the month suffered from below normal temperatures. All four weekly
summaries indicated below normal precipitation for the state as a whole.
Yet...the Western half of the state received more rainfall and finished
the month with slightly above normal rainfall...than did the Eastern half
which ended the month with below normal rainfall. The first measureable
snow was reported on November 20/21 with no significant accumulation
(Jackson 0.9 inches of snow for the month).
Temperatures for the month averaged 44.1 degrees across the state which
was 2.7 degrees BELOW NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 54 in the
West to 54 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged
from 6 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 2 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 2
degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East.
For monthly average temperatures by climate division...West 45.4 degrees
(-2.6 degrees from normal); Central 44.9 (-2.3 degrees); Bluegrass 43.0
(-3.1); and East 43.2 degrees (-2.9 degrees from normal temperature).
Precipitation (liq. equ.) for November 2000 totaled 3.14 inches statewide
which was 0.88 inches BELOW NORMAL and 78 percent of normal rainfall.
Precipitation totals by climate division, West 4.47 inches (103 percent of
normal), Central 3.74 inches (87 percent of normal), Bluegrass 2.51 inches
(68 percent) and East 2.11 inches (56 percent), which was +0.13, -0.57,
-1.20 and -1.66 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation
totals ranged from a low of 1.11 inches at Quicksand to a high of 4.77 inches
at Paducah.
Kentucky
11/ 1/2000 to 11/30/2000
Temperature Precipitation
cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent
1 45.4 48.0 -2.6 4.47 4.34 0.13 103
2 44.9 47.3 -2.3 3.74 4.31 -0.57 87
3 43.0 46.2 -3.1 2.51 3.71 -1.20 68
4 43.2 46.1 -2.9 2.11 3.76 -1.66 56
State 44.1 46.8 -2.7 3.14 4.02 -0.88 78
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: October 2000
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL:
Usually Kentucky's driest month of the year, October 2000 will go into the
record books as the 8th driest October since 1896. And...the very mild
temperatures for October didn't keep Kentucky from having one of the earliest
frosts since 1987....Oct 8, 9 &10 for most locations. Also...the Jackson
NWS Office reported 11 days with fog.
Temperatures for October 2000 averaged 59.4 degrees across the state which was
2.4 degrees ABOVE normal. High temperatures averaged from 75 in the West to 73
in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from +3 degrees
from normal in the West to +5 degrees from normal in the East. Low temperatures
averaged from 49 degrees in the West to 46 degrees in the East. Departure from
normal low temperature ranged from NEAR normal in the West to NEAR normal in the
East. Extreme high temperatures were in the mid to upper 80's...many of which
were record or near record maximum temperatures in Western KY (Paducah, 88 10/3,4,5).
October also had extreme low temperatures that broke record low temperatures on
Oct 8,9 & 10.
Rainfall for the month totaled 0.89 inches statewide which was 2.04 inches BELOW
normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 0.91 inches, Central 0.71
inches, Bluegrass 0.98 inches and East 0.95 inches, which was 2.18, 2.34, 1.78 and
1.90 inches respectively BELOW normal. By Kentucky station, precipitation totals
ranged from a low of 0.38 inches at Bardstown to a high of 1.45 inches at Mayfield.
By the end of October...the Palmer Drought Severity Index indicated both West and
Central KY areas had again returned to the MODERATE hydrologic drought category.
Bluegrass and Eastern KY areas continued in the NEAR NORMAL category, but had slipped
slightly. The Crop Moisture Index indicated that most of the state was in the TOPSOIL
MOISTURE SHORT, GERMINATION SLOW category.
Kentucky
10/ 1/2000 to 10/31/2000
Temperature Precipitation
cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent
1 61.4 58.5 2.9 0.91 3.10 -2.18 29
2 60.5 57.3 3.2 0.71 3.04 -2.34 23
3 58.6 56.5 2.2 0.98 2.76 -1.78 36
4 57.6 56.0 1.6 0.95 2.85 -1.90 33
State 59.4 57.0 2.4 0.89 2.93 -2.04 30
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: September 2000
BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL:
Temperatures for September 2000 averaged 67 degrees across the state which was
1 degree BELOW NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 80 in the West to 76
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 57 degrees in the West to 57 degrees in the East. Departure from
normal low temperature ranged from NEAR NORMAL in the West to 1 degree ABOVE
NORMAL in the East. Record low temperatures occurred on Sept. 17th (Paducah 42
degrees). Record low maximum temperatures occurred on Sept. 26 (Lexington 59
degrees) and record high daily rainfall on Sept. 25th (Louisville 1.38 inches).
Rainfall for September 2000 totaled 3.16 inches statewide which was 0.44 inches
BELOW NORMAL, 88 percent of normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.45
inches, Central 2.78 inches, Bluegrass 3.69 inches and East 2.85 inches, which was
+0.05, -1.17 , +0.24 and -0.75 inches respectively from normal. By station,
rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.47 inches at Cumberland Gap in the
Southeast section of the state to a high of 5.36 inches at UK's Spindletop
Research Farm in Lexington. By the end of September drought conditions continued
to presist in the Western half of the Commonwealth but had improved significantly
in the Eastern half. West Ky ended the month in Incipient hydrologic drought
category; Central in Mild drought and Bluegrass and Eastern Ky areas had ended
the drought and were in the Moist Spell category. West Ky needed 2.16 inches of
above normal rainfall to end the drought; Central needed 3.35 inches.
/ktp
Kentucky
9/ 1/2000 to 9/30/2000
Temperature Precipitation
cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent
1 69.1 69.9 -0.8 3.45 3.40 0.05 101
2 68.1 68.7 -0.7 2.78 3.94 -1.17 70
3 65.9 67.8 -1.9 3.69 3.45 0.24 107
4 66.0 67.4 -1.3 2.85 3.60 -0.75 79
State 67.2 68.4 -1.2 3.16 3.60 -0.44 88
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: August 2000
NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL:
Very cool, wet conditions in Eastern U.S. along the Atlantic seaboard and extremely
hot, dry conditions in Southern U.S. split the Bluegrass State in the middle fringe
area of both extremes.
Wide variation of weather occurred across the Bluegrass State during August 2000.
While cooler, wetter conditions dominated Eastern KY...Western KY was very hot/dry...
and cancelled out monthly statewide temperature/rainfall departures to near zero.
Jackson received only 1 day with the daily high temperature of 90 degrees...
while Paducah reported 13 days with high temperatures greater or equal to
90 degrees...several days near 100 degrees. Temperature extremes were near 100
degrees (F) in Western KY but near 90 in the East. Eastern Ky was wet...Western KY
was much drier. Eastern KY reported 22 days with fog and 12 days with measurable
rainfall...Western KY reported only 7 days with measurable rainfall. By month's end,
the Palmer Drought Severity Index indicated that the West, Central and Bluegrass
areas were in MILD hydrologic drought and Eastern KY was in the MOIST SPELL
category. The Crop Moisture Index indicated generally adequate moisture for
agricultural purposes...slightly drier in Western KY.
Temperatures for August 2000 averaged 75 degrees across the state which was 0 degrees
from normal (NEAR NORMAL). High temperatures averaged from 89 in the West to 83 in
the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degree ABOVE NORMAL
in the West to 1 degree BELOW NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 67
degrees in the West to 64 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature
ranged from 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 1 degree ABOVE NORMAL in the East.
Rainfall for August 2000 totaled 4.06 inches statewide which was 0.24 inches ABOVE
NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.96 inches, Central 4.66 inches,
Bluegrass 4.02 inches and East 4.50 inches, which was -0.63, +0.85, +0.03 and +0.62 inches
respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.07
inches at Mayfield to a high of 6.34 inches at Quicksand.
Kentucky
8/ 1/2000 to 8/31/2000
Temperature Precipitation
cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent
1 78.0 76.5 1.5 2.96 3.59 -0.63 82
2 76.1 75.1 0.9 4.66 3.82 0.85 122
3 73.5 74.3 -0.9 4.02 3.98 0.03 101
4 72.5 73.7 -1.2 4.50 3.88 0.62 116
State 74.8 74.8 0.0 4.06 3.82 0.24 106
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: July 2000
Tom Priddy/Erin Maxwell
UK Ag. Weather Center
BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL:
What some weather forecasters expected to be one of the driest and hottest
July's turned out to be one of the coolest July's on record (13th to be
exact) with above normal rainfall. Unlike last year when soils baked across
the Bluegrass state and temperatures hit the 100 degree mark on several occassions...
this July was a teddy bear with no high's of 100 and timely rainfall providing
the potential for bumper crops. Oh....what a difference those weak La Nina
sea-surface temperatures had on Kentucky and the Ohio Valley this year! While
there was some severe weather, high winds and hail reported this July...it's
been a fairly good month for agriculture. Humidities were high but temperatures
were on the cool side the majority of the time. Louisville had only three (3)
days this July with high temperatures greater than 90 degrees....that's
compared to 21 times during July 1999.
Temperatures for July 2000 averaged 74.5 degrees across the state which was
1.6 degrees BELOW NORMAL. High temperatures averaged from 87 in the West to
83 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 3 degrees
BELOW NORMAL in the West to 3 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures
averaged from 66 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 BELOW
NORMAL in the East. Extreme high temperatures were in the low 90's and
extreme low temperature were in the upper 50's. Jackson KY had a record low
of 58 degrees on July 20th beating the old record by 2 degrees.
While the Western section of the state received less rain than the Eastern
sections (nearly 2 inches less), a good soaking occurred on the last weekend
of the month improving most areas drought status. At the beginning of July
most of the state (West, Central & Bluegrass) was in MODERATE hydrologic
drought, according to the Palmer Drought Severity Index. But by month's end,
timely rainfall had ended the drought in Eastern Kentucky and improved
West and Bluegrass areas to the MILD hydrologic drought category. Central
continued in MODERATE drought.
Rainfall for July 2000 totaled 4.68 inches statewide which was 0.18 inches ABOVE
NORMAL. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.87 inches, Central 4.58
inches, Bluegrass 4.38 inches and East 5.56 inches, which was -0.12, -0.16, -0.25
and +0.91 inches respectively from normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged
from a low of 1.79 inches at Bowling Green to a high of 5.69 inches at Jackson.
Kentucky
July 2000
Temperature Precipitation
cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent
1 76.8 78.0 -1.2 3.87 3.99 -0.12 97
2 75.6 76.4 -0.8 4.58 4.74 -0.16 97
3 73.4 75.5 -2.2 4.38 4.64 -0.25 95
4 72.6 74.7 -2.0 5.56 4.65 0.91 120
State 74.5 76.1 -1.6 4.68 4.50 0.18 104
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: June 2000*
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND NEAR NORMAL RAINFALL:
The first half of June 2000 was dry and cool. A lenghty run
of rainfall events from daily, scattered showers and thunderstorms
started on June 15th and lasted until month's end which improved
the MODERATE/SEVERE hydrologic drought situation to MILD/MODERATE
across the Bluegrass state. Southeastern sections of the state
and also along the Ohio River received the greater rainfall with 1
to 2 inches above normal for the month. Driest locations were near
Bowling Green west to Paducah where departures from normal rainfall
was 1 to 2 inches below normal.
Temperatures for the period averaged 73 degrees across the state
which was 1 degree ABOVE NORMAL and 5 degrees warmer than the previous
month. High temperatures averaged from 85 in the West to 83 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 64 degrees in the West to 63 degrees in the East. Departure from normal
low temperature ranged about 1 degree ABOVE NORMAL across the state.
Rainfall for the month totaled 4.38 inches statewide which was 0.53
inches ABOVE NORMAL. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.60
inches, Central 3.46 inches, Bluegrass 4.88 inches and East 5.30
inches, which was -0.10, -0.47, +1.05 and +1.38 inches respectively
from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.37
inches at Mayfield to a high of 8.86 inches at
Quicksand.
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: May 2000*
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND NEAR NORMAL RAINFALL:
Very warm temperatures were the rule during the first half of May 2000
but shifted to seasonal during the second half of the month....averaging
ABOVE NORMAL for the month. Dry conditions occurred for the first three
weeks of May but severe storms provided hail, high winds and tornadoes
during the final week of the month...along with much needed rainfall.
In fact, the dry conditions had placed the entire state into MODERATE
hydrologic long-term drought category according to the Palmer Drought
Severity Index. By the end of May 2000, and with significant rainfall due
to storms, the state's moisture situation had improved...but only
to the MILD hydrologic drought category. The Crop Moisture Index
continued to indicate adequate-to-wet short-term soil moisture for
agricultural purposes by the end of May 2000. Corn growing degree day
accumulations since April 1st ranged from 729 at Covington to over 900
in the Western sections of the state which was 50 GCDD's to 150 GCDD's
ABOVE NORMAL. Extreme high temperatreus were near 90 degrees and extreme
low temperatures were in the upper 40's.
Temperatures for May 2000 averaged 67 degrees across the state which
was 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL and 12 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 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from
59 degrees in the West to 57 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low
temperature ranged from 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 2 degrees
ABOVE NORMAL in the East.
Rainfall for May 2000 totaled 4.70 inches statewide which was within 0.05 inches
of NORMAL. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 6.23 inches,
Central 5.37 inches, Bluegrass 3.56 inches and East 3.80 inches, which was
+1.58, +0.40, -0.99 and -0.70 inches respectively from normal. By station,
precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.26 inches at Bardstown
to a high of 6.93 inches at Glasgow.
Kentucky
May 2000
Temperature Precipitation
cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent
West 68.3 66.6 1.7 6.23 4.65 1.58 134
Cent 67.7 65.1 2.5 5.37 4.97 0.40 108
Blue 66.2 64.1 2.1 3.56 4.55 -0.99 78
East 65.8 63.6 2.2 3.80 4.49 -0.70 84
State 66.9 64.8 2.1 4.70 4.65 0.05 101
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: April 2000*
BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL:
April of 2000 was a mild but wet month with above normal
rainfall amounts and a new weather pattern emerging.
Each of the weeks had at least one significant rainfall
event in many parts of the state. The month contained
many days of little or no sunshine which did not help
field activities or plant growth and development. The
hydrologic drought has been alleviated for most of the
state with the exception of western Kentucky which is
still under a MILD drought according to the Palmer Drought
Severity Index but ABNORMALLY MOIST soil moisture conditions
still continued across the state according to the Crop
Moisture Index which also hampered field activities for April.
Temperatures for the period averaged 55 degrees across
the state which was 1 degree BELOW NORMAL. High temperatures
averaged from 68 in the West to 66 in the East. Departure
from normal high temperatures ranged from 4 degrees BELOW
NORMAL in the West to 1 degree ABOVE NORMAL in the East.
Low temperatures averaged from 44 degrees in the West to
44 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature
ranged from 2 degrees BELOW NORMAL in the West to 1 degree
BELOW NORMAL in the East.
Precipitation for the period totaled 4.63 inches statewide
which was 0.38 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Precipitation totals
by climate division, West 4.28 inches, Central 4.53 inches,
Bluegrass 4.41 inches and East 4.94 inches, which was -1.20,
+0.22, +0.39 and +0.99 inches respectively from normal. By
station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.33 inches
at Henderson to a high of 5.49 inches at Cumberland Gap.
Kentucky
4/ 1/2000 to 4/30/2000
Temperature Precipitation
cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent
1 54.9 58.2 -3.3 4.28 4.63 -0.35 92
2 54.0 56.9 -2.9 4.68 4.44 0.24 105
3 52.6 55.2 -2.6 4.35 4.17 0.19 104
4 52.5 55.2 -2.6 5.05 3.88 1.18 130
State 53.5 56.3 -2.8 4.63 4.25 0.38 109
*Based on preliminary data
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: March 2000*
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL:
March of 2000 was a mild month with a several short periods of
seasonal temperatures. Most weeks received below normal rainfall
but as similar to both Jan. and Feb at least one very significant
rainfall occurred..and for March it occurred during mid-month.
Snowfall was nearly non-existant. In fact, March of 2000 continued the
cycle of lengthy (2 to 3 week's) dry weather then a significant
rainfall event occurred. The pattern continued to keep all of
Kentucky in MILD to MODERATE hydrologic, long-term drought according
to the Palmer Drought Severity Index but ABNORMALLY MOIST soil moisture
conditions for agricultural purposes according to the Crop Moisture Index.
The mild temperatures in March also continued the rapid accumulation
of Alfalfa Weevil Degree Days, which were 2 to 3 weeks ahead of normal.
Temperatures for the month averaged 49 degrees across the state which
was 3 degrees ABOVE NORMAL and 7 degrees warmer than March 1999. High
temperatures averaged from 63 in the West to 64 in the East. Departure
from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the
West to 10 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged
from 39 degrees in the West to 38 degrees in the East. Departure from
normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West
to 5 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Between the coldest March of 1960
(31.5 degrees) and the warmest March of 1945 (55.6 degrees), March of
2000 ranked 85th for the 105 year period (1895-2000).
Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 3.59 inches statewide
which was -0.99 inches BELOW NORMAL. Between the driest March of 1910
(0.79") and 1997's wettest March (11.24"), March 2000 ranked 37th for
the 105 year period (1895-2000). Precipitation totals by climate division, West
3.84 inches, Central 3.96 inches, Bluegrass 3.53 inches and East 3.16 inches,
which was -1.03, -0.85, -0.90 and -1.10 inches respectively BELOW NORMAL.
By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.94 inches at Jackson
to a high of 4.30 inches at Mayfield.
Kentucky
3/ 1/2000 to 3/31/2000
Temperature Precipitation
cd temp norm dev prcp norm dev percent
1 50.7 47.8 2.9 3.84 4.87 -1.03 79
2 49.8 47.0 2.8 3.96 4.81 -0.85 82
3 48.1 45.3 2.9 3.53 4.43 -0.90 80
4 48.8 45.7 3.1 3.16 4.26 -1.10 74
State 49.4 46.4 3.0 3.58 4.57 -0.99 78
* Based on preliminary data
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: February 2000
ABOVE NORMAL Temperatures and Precipitation:
Very mild temperatures spurred trees and outdoor plants to break
dormancy during the second half of February 2000, enough rainfall
to lift Kentucky's long-term (PDSI) drought cagetory to the MILD drought
levels and the crop moisture index (CMI) to surplus soil moisture. Very
little snowfall occurred with the majority of the state reporting
an inch or less, except in Southeastern sections where over 3 inches
was reported. The first week and a half of February was colder than
seasonal normals, but the remainder of the month was very mild with
RECORD temperatures in the mid to upper 70's were reported on the 24th
thru 26th of the month.
Temperatures for the period averaged 43 degrees across the state
which was 7 degrees ABOVE NORMAL, 10 degrees warmer than January
and 1 degree warmer than February 1999. High temperatures averaged
from 54 in the West to 54 in the East. Departure from normal high
temperatures ranged from 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the West to 10
degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 35
degrees in the West to 34 degrees in the East. Departure from
normal low temperature ranged from 8 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the
West to 8 degrees ABOVE NORMAL. This was the 10th warmest February
since 1895.
Precipitation (liq. equ.) for February 2000 totaled 4.77 inches
statewide which was 1.04 inches ABOVE NORMAL. Heavy rainfall
occurred statewide on the 17th/18th with Northcentral sections
suffering from flooding/flash flooding which was a near repeat
of the March 1997 flooding at Falmouth and Cynthiana, KY. Precipitation
totals (liq. equ.) by climate division, West 6.05 inches, Central 4.19
inches, Bluegrass 5.32 inches and East 3.87 inches, which was 1.99,
0.05, 1.96 and 0.41 inches respectively ABOVE NORMAL. By station,
rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.34 inches at Berea to a high
of 6.62 inches at Louisville. This was the 26th wettest February since
1895.
---
Kentucky Climate Summary: January 2000*
ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND ABOVE NORMAL LIQUID PRECIPITATION:
A wild temperature ride and mixed precipitation dominated the first
month of the new millennium's (January 2000) weather. The weather
for this month provided tornadoes in Owensboro causing loss of
life and great personal damage (over 1000 homes damaged) at the
beginning of the month, several winter storms which provided the
entire state with snowfall and snowcover for over a week and a half,
record high temperatures at the beginning of the month and near record
low temperatures during the 2nd half of the month.
The very cold temperatures during the last 2 weeks of the month were
offset by the very mild temperatures the first 17 days of January 2000.
The monthly average temperature was ABOVE NORMAL. The offsetting
temperatures from the beginning to the end of the month also produced
a mixture of preciptition types. Heavy rainfall during the first full
week (Jan 2nd - 4th) lifted the entire state out of deep hydrologic
drought categories according to the Palmer Drought Severity Index to
MILD/MODERATE drought for the first time since late 1998. And multiple
winter storms during the last half of the month provided 3 to 8 inches
of snow across the state (West to East) with some reports of over 15
inches in the Eastern KY mountains. By the end of the month, the
Bluegrass area, however, had returned to the SEVERE hydrologic drought
category with the remiander of the state in the MODERATE drought category.
Yet, the Crop Moisture Index (CMI) indicated NEAR NORMAL short-term moisture
conditions for agricultural purposes.
Temperatures for January 2000 averaged 34 degrees across the state
which was 2 degrees ABOVE NORMAL, 6 degrees colder than December
1999 and 4 degrees colder than the same time last year (Jan 1999). High
temperatures averaged from 44 in the West to 43 in the East.
Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degree ABOVE
NORMAL in the West to 4 degrees ABOVE NORMAL in the East. Low
temperatures averaged from 27 degrees in the West to 26 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. Extreme
high temperatures were in the low 70's (Jan. 2nd & 3rd) and extreme
low temperatures were in the single digits (Jan. 21st & 25th thru 27th).
Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the month totaled 3.79 inches statewide
which was 0.60 inches ABOVE NORMAL. The Western section of the state
received more liquid precipitation in the form of rain and the Eastern
section of the state received more solid precipitation in the form of
snow. The entire state received at least three freezing rain/sleet events
along with snowfall. Precipitation (liq. equ.) totals by climate division,
West 5.05 inches, Central 4.08 inches, Bluegrass 3.59 inches and East
2.44 inches, which was +1.86, +0.68, +0.82 and -0.97 inches respectively
from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.11
inches at Huntington to a high of 6.42 inches at Henderson.
To compare the temperatures and rainfall of Jan. 2000, to other January's
back to 1895....check this url:
http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/ranking_state.htm
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* = Based on preliminary data from 1st-order NWS and Ag. Weather Stations
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