January 2011 Climate Summary

For a printable version of the climate summary which includes more figures, data tables, and state summaries, click here.

Temperature Summary

The temperatures this January were full of ups and downs.  The year started off with extreme cold across Colorado and Wyoming.  In the middle of the month, after a brief warm up, the High Plains Region experienced some of the coldest temperatures of the month.  According to the South Dakota State Climate Office, South Dakota had the coldest temperatures in the lower 48 states on January 19th when several locations were -20 degrees F (-28.9 degrees C) or colder.  While not record breaking, Pollock, South Dakota did have a low of -32 degrees F (-35.6 degrees C) that day.  The warmest temperatures of the month occurred about 10 days later when temperatures ranged from 60-75 degrees F (15.6-23.9 degrees C) across Kansas and Colorado.  These warm temperatures did not last long as a blast of cold Arctic air plunged south into the Region at the very end of the month.

Overall, temperatures were slightly warmer than normal across much of Wyoming, central Colorado, western Kansas, and the western edge of the panhandle of Nebraska and cooler than normal in the northern and eastern areas of the Region.  Although average temperatures were 6-8 degrees F (3.3-4.4 degrees C) below normal from eastern North Dakota south through eastern Kansas, the cold weather was not record breaking.  Many places did rank in the top 20 coldest Januaries on record, however.  Seward, Nebraska tied for its 10th coldest January on record (period of record 1900-2011).  The average temperature for Seward was 16.6 degrees F (-8.6 degrees C) this month which was 7.8 degrees F (4.3 degrees C) below normal.  The coldest January on record occurred in 1940 with an average temperature of only 8.2 degrees F (-13.2 degrees C).

Precipitation Summary

Precipitation varied across the Region this month.  Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas were generally drier than normal with some isolated areas receiving above normal precipitation.  Enough snow fell in the higher elevations in western Wyoming to eliminate the moderate drought conditions which have been in place for months.  Several rounds of snow impacted the northern and eastern portions of the Region this month.  Many locations in northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota had snowfall totals that ranked in the top 10 snowiest Januaries on record and a few even broke monthly records.  A long-standing January snowfall record was broken in Oakdale, Nebraska where 23.2 inches (59 cm) of snow fell this month.  The previous record was 17.6 inches (45 cm) and occurred in 1936 (period of record 1893-2011).  Interestingly, two days this month ranked as top one-day January snowfalls for Oakdale.  The fifth highest one-day snow total occurred on January 23rd with 7.0 inches (18 cm) and the second highest one-day snow total occurred on January 10th with 9.5 inches (24 cm).  January 2011 was also the second snowiest month of all time in Oakdale.  Only March of 1911 had more snow (27.0 inches/69 cm).

Concerns of major flooding along the Red River have started again this winter.  According to the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the combination of a wet 2010, higher than normal snowfall this winter season, and a La Niña forecast of a cool and wet spring could lead to major spring flooding.  Snowfall totals across the area have been impressive, although not near those preceding the historical flood of 1997.  For instance, Fargo, North Dakota has received 59.2 inches (150 cm) of snow so far this season.  This amount has already surpassed the entire 2009-2010 seasonal snowfall total of 46.6 inches (118 cm)!  

Climate Outlook

La Niña conditions were present across the equatorial Pacific this month and are expected to continue into spring 2011.  The temperature outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal temperatures for much of Kansas and Colorado.  North Dakota, the majority of South Dakota, and northern Wyoming have a higher probability of below normal temperatures.  Equal chances of above, near, or below normal temperatures are predicted elsewhere in the Region.  The precipitation outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal precipitation for the western half of North Dakota, northwestern South Dakota, and northern Wyoming.  The majority of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska have a higher probability of below normal precipitation.  Equal chances of above, near, or below normal precipitation are predicted elsewhere in the Region.  The seasonal outlooks combine the effects of long-term trends, soil moisture, and when applicable, the El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle (ENSO). More information about these forecasts can be found here.

Drought Watch

The U.S. Drought Monitor remained largely unchanged since last month.  In western Wyoming, a good snow pack and high precipitation caused the moderate drought conditions (D1) to be eliminated and the abnormally dry conditions (D0) to be trimmed slightly.  The D0 in the southwest corner of Colorado were also eliminated.  However, severe drought conditions (D2) remained over south-central Colorado and western Kansas.  D1 across eastern Colorado, western and southeastern Kansas, and the panhandle of Nebraska were also unchanged.  According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook released January 20th drought conditions across Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska were expected to persist and drought conditions were expected to develop in south central Nebraska.