January Climate Recap
Following the second warmest December on record, the “heat” broke on January 2 after a record warm New Year’s Day that topped out at 79 degrees. Temperatures roller-coastered throughout the month but ended up nearly 2 degrees below normal. Twenty-three days recorded below freezing low temperatures while nine days had high temperatures of 60 or greater. Precipitation finished just below average for the month while snowfall totaled 1.7 inches, spread over three days with measurable snow. The heaviest snow event occurred on the 16th with totals in the city between 1-2 inches, but 2-4 inch amounts reported in the greater metro east of Memphis.
Thunderstorms on the 1st dropped over an inch of rain and shifted the pattern from December warmth to a much cooler January. Those storms were also responsible for minor tree and power line damage across the metro with a 68 mph wind gust recorded at the Millington Regional Jetport.
Memphis International Airport, Memphis, TN
Temperature
Average temperature: 40.3 degrees (1.8 degrees below average)
Average high temperature: 51.5 degrees (0.6 degrees above average)
Average low temperature: 29.0 degrees (4.3 degrees below average)
Warmest temperature: 79 degrees (1st)
Coolest temperature: 17 degrees (21st)
Heating Degrees Days: 759 (49 above average)
Cooling Degree Days: 0 (1 below average)
Records set or tied: Record high temperature – 79 degrees (1st)
Comments: 23 days saw temperatures fall below freezing which is 8.1 above average
Precipitation
Monthly total: 3.81″ (0.33″ below average)
Days with measurable precipitation: 7 (3.0 days below average)
Wettest 24-hour period: 1.27″ (1st)
Snowfall: 1.7″ (0.8″ above average)
Records set or tied: Tied record daily snowfall – 0.3″ (2nd)
Comments: Three days recorded measurable snowfall with a maximum of 1.2″ on the 16th.
Miscellaneous
Peak wind: South/39 mph (1st)
Average wind: 8.9 mph
Average relative humidity: 60%
Average sky cover: 50%
Click here for a daily statistical recap for Memphis International Airport.
Cirrus Weather Solutions / MemphisWeather.net, Bartlett, TN
Temperature
Average temperature: 37.6 degrees
Average high temperature: 49.6 degrees
Average low temperature: 26.4 degrees
Warmest temperature: 77.1 degrees (1st)
Coolest temperature: 13.4 degrees (22nd)
Comments: None
Precipitation
Monthly total: 4.84″ (automated rain gauge), 5.25″(manual CoCoRaHS rain gauge)
Days with measurable precipitation: 8
Wettest date: 1.97″ (9th) (via automated gauge)
Snowfall: 2.3″
Comments: There were three days with measurable snowfall – (0.3″ on the 2nd, 0.2″ on the 6th, and 1.8″ on the 16th).
Miscellaneous
Peak wind: West/29 mph (28th)
Average relative humidity: 69%
Average barometric pressure: 30.19 in. Hg
Comments: None
Click here for a daily statistical recap for Bartlett, TN.
MWN Forecast Accuracy
MWN average temperature error: 2.39 degrees
MWN forecast temperatures within 2 degrees of actual: 64%
MWN average dewpoint error: 2.57 degrees
MWN forecast dewpoints within 2 degrees of actual: 62%
MWN’s forecasts extend out five periods (2.5 days, or roughly 60 hours). Historical accuracy statistics can be found here.
Climate Outlook – February 2022
The February climate outlook for the United States from the Climate Prediction Center is shown below. Above average temperatures are forecast for the eastern third of the U.S., as well as the southwestern U.S. Below average temperatures are expected across the Upper Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. Odds slightly favor above average temperatures (39%) for Memphis over the course of the month versus a 28% chance of below average temperatures. The average temperature for Fenruary is 46.1 degrees.
Precipitation is expected to be above normal for the northern high plains into the Great Lakes south into the Mississippi Valley, while below average precipitation is forecast for the southwestern U.S. For Memphis, odds favor above average precipitation (45%) versus a 22% chance of below average precipitation, which historically averages 4.55 inches in February.
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Complete MWN Forecast: MemphisWeather.net on the mobile web or via the MWN mobile app
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