The highlight of January weather in Kansas was the storm system that moved through the state from the 13th through the 16th. In advance of the event, ice storm warnings were issued. Eastern Kansas missed most of the ice, while southwest Kansas had significant icing followed by as much as 6 inches of snow. This event pushed the statewide average precipitation to 1.60 inches, or 227 percent of normal. It ranks as the 7th wettest January in 123 years of record. The South Central Division had the highest precipitation both in amount and percent of normal. The divisional average was 3.59 inches, or 361 percent of normal. The West Central Division had the lowest average precipitation at 0.81 inches, or 158 percent of normal. The Northeast Division was closest to normal with an average of 1.06 inches, or 140 percent of normal. The National Weather Service Cooperative station at Sun City, Barber County, reported the greatest monthly precipitation with 5.13 inches. For the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network (CoCoRaHS) the greatest monthly total was 4.16 inches at Deerfield 0.6 NE, Kearny County. The greatest 24-hour totals reported: 2.39 inches at Coldwater, Comanche County, on the 16th (NWS); 3.74 inches at Sharon 0.2 W, Barber County, on the 16th (CoCoRaHS).
Warmer-than-normal temperatures returned in January. The statewide average temperature was 31.9 degrees F, or 2 degrees warmer than normal. This was the 35th warmest since 1896. The western divisions were the closet to normal for the month. The Northwest Division averaged 27.8 degrees F, or -0.7 degrees cooler than normal, while the Southwest Division averaged 32.7 degrees F, or 0.6 degrees warmer than normal. The West Central Division fell right in between, with an average of 29.8 degrees F, which was exactly normal. The Southeast Division had the greatest departure with an average temperature of 36.7 degrees F, or 4.6 degrees warmer than normal. Even with the warmth, three record low maximum temperatures were tied, while one record low minimum temperature was tied. On the warm side, there were 23 new record high maximum temperatures set and 68 new record high minimum temperatures set. The coldest minimum temperature reported was 15 degrees F at Colby 1SW, Thomas County, on the 6th. The highest temperature reported was 78 degrees F at Pratt, Pratt County, on the 31st.
The month was rather calm as far as severe weather events. There were no reports of tornadoes, hail or high winds. As mentioned earlier, the major severe weather event was the ice storm that went from January 13th through the 16th.
The higher-than-normal precipitation resulted in improved conditions in the U.S. Drought Monitor. However, since this is the driest part of the year, improvements were limited. Until we move into the wetter season, the rate of change is likely to slow, especially in the western half of the state.
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Jan 2017 |
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Kansas Climate Division Summary |
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Precipitation (inches) |
Temperature (oF) |
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Jan 2017 |
2017 through Jan |
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Monthly Extremes |
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Division |
Total |
Dep. 1 |
% Normal |
Total |
Dep. 1 |
% Normal |
Ave |
Dep. 1 |
Max |
Min |
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Northwest |
0.87 |
0.42 |
195 |
0.87 |
0.42 |
195 |
27.8 |
-0.7 |
65 |
-15 |
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West Central |
0.81 |
0.31 |
158 |
0.81 |
0.31 |
158 |
29.8 |
0.0 |
71 |
-8 |
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Southwest |
1.73 |
1.26 |
359 |
1.73 |
1.26 |
359 |
32.7 |
0.6 |
75 |
-10 |
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North Central |
1.31 |
0.68 |
207 |
1.31 |
0.68 |
207 |
30.3 |
2.4 |
69 |
-10 |
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Central |
1.56 |
0.87 |
223 |
1.56 |
0.87 |
223 |
32.5 |
2.6 |
70 |
-4 |
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South Central |
2.89 |
2.06 |
361 |
2.89 |
2.06 |
361 |
34.6 |
2.5 |
74 |
-2 |
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Northeast |
1.06 |
0.25 |
140 |
1.06 |
0.25 |
140 |
30.1 |
2.8 |
64 |
-6 |
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East Central |
1.20 |
0.26 |
126 |
1.20 |
0.26 |
126 |
33.2 |
4.1 |
69 |
-4 |
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Southeast |
2.14 |
0.89 |
175 |
2.14 |
0.89 |
175 |
36.2 |
4.5 |
74 |
2 |
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STATE |
1.60 |
0.86 |
227 |
1.60 |
0.86 |
227 |
31.9 |
2.1 |
75 |
-15 |
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1. Departure from 1981-2010 normal value |
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2. State Highest temperature: 78 oF at Pratt, Pratt County, on the 31st. |
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3. State Lowest temperature: -15 oF at Colby 1SW, Thomas County, on the 6th. |
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4. Greatest 24hr: 2.39 inches at Coldwater, Comanche County, on the 16th (NWS); 3.74 inches at Sharon 0.2 W, Barber County, on the 16th (CoCoRaHS). |
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Source: KSU Weather Data Library |
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Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu
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