Skip to main content
Skip to site search

National Climate Report - January 2006

Maps and Graphics:


January Most Recent 3 Months Most Recent 6 Months
Most Recent 12 Months Preliminary Annual Summary for 2005 US Percent Area Very Wet/Dry/Warm/Cold

It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the National Temperature and Precipitation Maps page.


For graphics covering periods other than those mentioned above or for tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for January, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page.

National Overview:

January:

  • January temperatures were record warm for the nation with all states warmer than their long-term means. Fifteen states established new statewide January temperature records. For information on temperature records during the month, please go to NCDC's Extremes page.
  • Precipitation was above average for the contiguous US. Much wetter than average conditions occurred in the Northwest and Northeast, with below average precipitation for parts of the Southwest. For more information on drought during January, please visit the U.S. Drought page.
For additional details, see the Monthly Highlights section. For details and graphics on weather events across the U.S. and the globe go to NCDC's Global Hazards page.

Monthly and Seasonal Highlights:


National:

For tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for January, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page.
  • January 2006 ranked as the warmest January in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 39.5°F (4.2°C), which was 8.5°F (4.7°C) above the long-term mean. In a typical winter, January is colder than December by 2.4°F (1.3°C). January 2006 was warmer than December 2005 by 6.1°F (3.4°C).
  • January 2006 had above average precipitation, nationally, ranking 29th wettest.
  • For the last 3 months temperature was much above average and ranked as the 3rd warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature for November-January was 39.5°F (4.2°C) which was 3.8°F (2.1°C) above the long-term mean.
  • November 2005-January 2006 had near average precipitation, ranking 46th wettest in the last 111 years.
  • Temperature over the past 6 months (August-January) was record warm for the nation. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 52.8°F (11.6°C) which was 2.8°F (1.6°C) above the long-term mean.
  • August 2005-January 2006 had near average precipitation, nationally, ranking 52nd wettest.
  • The February 2005-January 2006 temperature was above average and ranked as the 5th warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 54.7°F (12.6°C) which was 1.9°F (1.1°C) above the long-term mean.
  • Precipitation was near average for February-January, ranking 51st wettest for the last 12 months based on a record of 111 such periods.

Regional and Statewide:
  • January 2006 temperatures ranked record warm for 15 states and above or much above average for all other contiguous states.
  • Alaska temperatures were below average for January with an anomaly of -9.5°F (-5.3°C).
  • January was much wetter than average for 7 states, mostly in the Northwest and Northeast, while Arizona was much drier than average.
  • The 3 month period, November-January, was record warm for 2 states and warmer or much warmer than average for all other lower 48 states but Washington and Oregon, which were near average.
  • November 2005-January 2006 was record dry for Arizona and much drier than average for 4 additional states in the southern Plains and Southwest. Eight states were much wetter than average.
  • The past 6 months, August-January, was record warm for 5 states and warmer or much warmer than average for all other lower 48 states except Washington, which was near average.
  • August 2005-January 2006 was record wet for three New England states and much wetter than average for a further 7 states. The southern Plains remained drier than the long term mean with 3 states much drier than average.
  • February 2005-January 2006 was warmer or much warmer than average for much of the nation, with record warmth for South Dakota and only 2 southeastern states near average in the contiguous U.S.
  • The last 12 months had a mixed precipitation pattern across the country. There were 24 states that were wetter or much wetter than average, including 2 record wet states in New England, and there were 11 states from Texas to Wisconsin that were drier or much drier than average.

    See NCDC's Monthly Extremes web-page for weather and climate records for the month of January.
It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the National Temperature and Precipitation Maps page.

Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, State of the Climate: National Climate Report for January 2006, published online February 2006, retrieved on January 18, 2021 from https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/200601.

Metadata