Ithaca Climate Summary for January 2002

Temperature

• With an average temperature of 31.0 degrees, the month averaged an impressive 8.4 degrees warmer than normal.
• This was the 7th warmest January on record, the warmest since 1990 and the 2nd warmest since 1950.
• This was the third consecutive month with a positive temperature departure of more than 5 degrees.
• The warmest temperature of the month was 59 degrees on the 27th.
• The coldest temperature of the month was 6 degrees on the 20th.
• The last ten days of the month averaged 17 degrees warmer than normal.

Precipitation

• January precipitation totalled 1.70 inches, which represented 80% of normal.
• This January had more precipitation last January, but less than the previous three (1998-2000).
• More than half the monthly total (0.87 inches) was recorded on the month's last two days.
• Precipitation for the last four months was 3.06 inches below normal.

Snowfall

• January snowfall amounted to 9.9 inches. This was 8 inches below normal.
• This was the least snowiest January since 1993.
• There were only 8 days this month with measurable snow cover -- the least for a January since 1980.
• There have only been 11 days all winter with an inch or more of snow on the ground -- 2nd on record to the winter of 1931-32.
• Seasonal snowfall through January was 12 inches, which was 26.2 inches below normal.
• This was the lowest October-January total since at least the winter of 1933-34.