Climate of 2002 - January United States Analysis National Climatic Data Center, 14 February 2002

Image courtesy of the National Weather Service- Raleigh.

Contents of This Report: Statewide & Regional Temperatures Statewide & Regional Precipitation Regional Time Series - January This visible satellite photo shows snow cover after a storm on January 2-3 left snow in many southeastern states. Portions of north central North Carolina received up to 14 inches (35.6 cm) of snow.

Temperature Analysis

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January 2002 temperatures were much above normal from North Dakota southeastward to Missouri then northeastward to Maine. Wisconsin experienced a record warm January. View a time series graph of Wisconsin temperatures.

The graph to the right shows a temperature time series for Alaska. In January, temperatures averaged across the state were well above the long-term mean; ninth warmest in the 1918-2002 record. Thirteen of the last 19 Januarys have been near to or above the mean.

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It was the third warmest January in the 1895 to present record for the East North Central region. This is the third consecutive January where temperatures have been above the mean. Temperature time series for all regions can be found in the table below.

Precipitation Analysis

January precipitation was characterized by considerable regional variability. Areas of the northwest and portions of the southern Plains and Mississippi Valley received above average precipitation. In contrast, it was very dry in the upper Midwest and in most of the southwestern quarter of the nation. Arizona and Minnesota experienced their second and sixth driest January in the 1895 to present record, respectively.

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January 2002 was the 13th driest January in the 1895 to present record for the East North Central region. Precipitation in the last three Januarys has been near to or below the long term mean. Precipitation time series for all regions can be found in the table below.

Preliminary data indicate that precipitation in the Primary Hard Red Winter Wheat Belt was below average for October through January 2002. The growing season runs from October through February.

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Regional Temperature and Precipitation Time Series

Questions?

For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division:

For further information on the historical climate perspective presented in this report, contact:

Dimitri Chappas NOAA/National Climatic Data Center 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-5001 fax: 828-271-4328 email: Dimitri.H.Chappas@noaa.gov

Jay Lawrimore NOAA/National Climatic Data Center 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-5001 fax: 828-271-4328 email: Jay.Lawrimore@noaa.gov

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