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 NCDC / Climate Monitoring / Climate of 2003 / January / U.S. Temperatures / Search / Help
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Climate of 2003 - January
National Temperatures
National Climatic Data Center,
13 February 2003
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Global Analysis / Global Hazards / United States Overview / U.S. Drought / Extremes
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 January Temperatures
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The graph to the left shows monthly mean temperature averaged across the contiguous United States based on long-term data from the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN). The value for 2003 is estimated from preliminary Climate Division data using the first difference approach. January 2003 ranked as the 31st warmest January in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 32.9° F (0.5° C) which was 2.0° F (1.1° C) above the long-term mean.
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Much above average warmth occurred in 10 western U.S. states in January with record warmth occurring in Nevada and Utah. Arizona, California and Oregon had their second warmest January on record while Idaho and Wyoming ranked 3rd warmest. Much of the remainder of the western half of the continental U.S. was also warmer than average for the month. In sharp contrast, most of the eastern half of the country (27 states) had below average temperatures for the month, with Florida falling into the much colder than average category.
As can be seen in a map of divisional temperature (below right), significantly cooler than average temperatures also occurred in Mississippi, Alabama and Ohio. In addition, many climate divisions in the west had record warm Januarys with record monthly average temperature occurring for every division in Nevada.
The pattern of warmth and cold in the contiguous U.S. in January broadly corresponded with the mean 500mb height and anomalies chart. This shows that well above normal 500mb heights extended from Mexico across the western half of the U.S., and on into northern Canada. These were associated with the much above average temperatures in January. Below average 500mb heights existed across the eastern portion of the United States leading to the lower monthly average temperatures.
It was the 18th warmest January since reliable statewide records began in 1918 for Alaska , with anomalies of 6.6°F (3.7°C) above normal relative to the period 1971-2000.
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Temperature Departures
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The map below, based on over 500 airport stations, shows departures from the 1971-2000 normal temperatures for January 2003. In the lower 48 states, widespread positive departures (greater than 7.5°F [4.2°C]) occurred over much of the western U.S. Record warmth occurred in parts of this region during the last few days of January (as can be seen in an animation of daily temperature anomalies).
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| A new maximum daily temperature record was set in Los Angeles, CA on January 31st when the high reached 91°F (32.8°C) and Long Beach Airport reached 93°F (33.9°C) on the same day. Numerous other daily maximum temperature records were broken on January 31st over the western half of the country, including for Battle Mountain, NV (70°F/ 21.1°C), Phoenix, AZ (86°F/30°C) and Pocatello, ID (60°F/15.6°C). Many cities also had their warmest January on record including Las Vegas, NV (54.2°F/ 12.3°C) and San Jose, CA (55.6°F/13.1°C). However, records of extreme cold were broken over much of the east coast. For example, in Columbia, SC, a minimum temperature of 13°F (-10.6°C) was recorded on January 24th, tying the all-time record low for the city. Temperatures dropped as low as 17°F(-8.3°C) on the morning of the 24th in northern Florida.
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November 2002 - January 2003 (and Dec-Jan)
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The graph to the left shows mean temperature averaged across the contiguous United States based on long-term data from the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN). The value for November 2002-January 2003 is estimated from preliminary Climate Division data using the first difference approach. November 2002-January 2003 was warmer than average and ranked as the 30th warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature for November-January was 37.1° F (2.8° C) which was 1.5° F (0.8° C) above the long-term mean.
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Ten states averaged much warmer than the long-term mean from November-January, and Nevada was record warm for the 3 months. Twenty-four states averaged colder than the long-term mean, though none of the contiguous U.S. states were much below normal averaged over November-January. November 2002 was a mild month with few records, so most of the November-January average can be derived from the pattern of warmth and cold in December and January as is illustrated by the 2-month temperature map below.
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The average for December-January is very similar to the 3 month (Nov-Jan) average.
Ten states were much warmer than average from December-January, and Nevada was record warm for the 2 months. Twenty-three states averaged colder than the long-term mean.
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National Temperatures - February 2002-January 2003
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The graph to the left shows mean temperature averaged across the contiguous United States based on long-term data from the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN). February 2002-January 2003 ranked as the 17th warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 53.7°F (12.1°C) which was 0.9°F (0.5°C) above the long-term mean.
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The contiguous U.S. was generally warm over the February 2002-January 2003 period with only 2 states (Mississippi and Arkansas) averaging significantly below normal temperature. The West and Southwest regions were 4th and 5th warmest respectively for the last 12 months, with all the states in those regions ranking in the top ten such warmest periods. In the east, only Delaware had much above average temperature during February 2002-January 2003.
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Questions?
For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division:
Climate Services Division
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4876
phone: 828-271-4800
email: questions@ncdc.noaa.gov
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For further information on the historical climate perspective presented in this report, contact:
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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NCDC / Climate Monitoring / Climate of 2003 / January / U.S. Temp. / Search / Help
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