January 2012 Climate Summary

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

Temperature Summary

January 2012 was warm and dry across the High Plains Region. Cold arctic air stayed well to the north, with some parts of Alaska having their coldest January on record. Locations here in the High Plains however, enjoyed unseasonably warm temperatures.
Most areas of the Region had temperature departures which were just above normal up to 9.0 degrees (5.0 degrees C) above normal. The largest temperature departures in the Region occurred in the Dakotas where some locations had average temperatures which were 12.0-15.0 degrees F (6.7-8.3 degrees C) above normal. Due to the unseasonably warm temperatures, many locations ranked in the top 15 warmest Januaries on record. For example, Grand Forks, ND had its 4th warmest January on record with an average temperature of 16.4 degrees F (-8.7 degrees C), which was 11.1 degrees F (-11.6 degrees C) above normal (period of record 1893-2012). The warmest January in Grand Forks occurred just a few years ago in 2006, with an average temperature of 21.3 degrees F (-5.9 degrees C). In addition to breaking into the top 15 warmest Januaries, numerous locations set new records for the warmest temperatures ever recorded in January. For instance, Omaha, NE set a new record high of 69 degrees F (20.6 degrees C) on January 30th. Not only was this a new record for that day, this tied as the warmest temperature ever recorded in January in Omaha (period of record 1871-2012). Another example is Aberdeen, SD which had a new record high of 63 degrees F (17.2 degrees C) on January 5th. This beat out the previous all-time high temperature record for January by 3 degrees F (1.7 degrees C)! The previous record of 60 degrees F (15.6 degrees C) was set January 24, 1981.

Precipitation Summary

January 2012 was fairly dry across the High Plains Region. Liquid equivalent precipitation was less than 25 percent of normal in many areas of Kansas, Nebraska, eastern Colorado, and North Dakota. Many locations in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska received no measurable precipitation this month. Although January liquid equivalent precipitation is usually light, the ongoing lack of rain and snow caused drought conditions to develop or worsen in these dry areas. In addition, many locations ranked in the top 10 driest Januaries on record. Much of eastern Kansas received less than 5 percent of normal precipitation. For instance Topeka, KS which received only 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) of precipitation, or 2 percent of normal precipitation, had its 2nd driest January on record (period of record 1887-2012). The driest January occurred in 1986 when no measurable precipitation
was received. Another location that had a notably dry January was Laramie, WY. Laramie only recorded a trace amount of precipitation, which made this January the driest on record (period of record 1948-2012). The previous record was set in both 1986 and 2006, when only 0.03 inches (0.8 mm) of liquid equivalent precipitation fell. Although most of the Region was dry, a few light snow events did pass through. A few areas received at least 150 percent of normal including southern South Dakota and isolated pockets of western North Dakota, western Wyoming, and north-central Colorado.

Climate Outlook

La Niña conditions are present in the equatorial Pacific and are expected to continue into spring. The temperature outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal temperatures for Colorado, Kansas, far southern Wyoming, and southwestern Nebraska. A higher probability for below normal temperatures exists for far western North Dakota. The precipitation outlook indicates a higher probability of above normal precipitation for northwestern Wyoming. Meanwhile, most of Colorado, the western half of Kansas, and southwestern Nebraska have a higher probability of below normal precipitation. Equal chances of above, near, or below normal precipitation and temperature 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 had many changes this month. Abnormally dry (D0) conditions spread to western areas of the Dakotas and also through north and central Nebraska. Moderate drought (D1) conditions in eastern North Dakota spread to include all areas near the Minnesota border. Western Colorado and southwestern Wyoming also had degradations this month as D0 developed and spread during the middle of the month. By the end of the month, D1 had developed in central and northwestern Colorado and south-central Wyoming. Low water-year-to-date (the water year starts October 1) precipitation led to this degradation. Except for a small expansion of D0 in western Kansas, drought conditions there remained largely the same. According to the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook, released January 19th, drought conditions in portions of the Dakotas, Nebraska, eastern Colorado, and western Kansas were expected to persist, while drought conditions in eastern Kansas were expected to improve. Drought conditions in western Colorado were expected to develop.