MUWIC Newsletter - February 2005

(Issued: February 2, 2005)

 

Millersville University Weather Information Center (MUWIC)

Eric J. Horst, Director

 

************************************************************************

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – 5th ANNUAL MUWIC OPEN HOUSE

 

You are invited to the 5th Annual Weather Information Center Open House on February 23, 2005. Stop by room 401 Caputo Hall between 6:00 – 8:00pm. We’d enjoy meeting you! Visit our website for information: http://www.atmos.millersville.edu/~wic/html/contact.htm

 

************************************************************************

 

LEAD STORY: A Remarkably “Average” January

 

Statistics can be deceiving, and this is often true with regard to monthly climatological summaries. The January 2005 climate summary depicts a near-normal month with an average temperature within a degree of normal. Of course, all the interesting details of this January’s daily weather are lost in such an aggregate statistic. A closer look at the day-to-day data, however, reveals a month that was anything but average.

 

The month began with a record high of 64 degrees on New Years Day. Unseasonable warmth continued for two weeks until a powerful arctic front moved in with heavy rain and gusty winds on the 14th. The final two weeks of January produced classic winter conditions with five measurable snowfalls and nine days of single-digit lows.

 

In the final analysis, the first two weeks of January averaged about 10 degrees above normal while the last two weeks of the month averaged 11 degrees below normal. Thus, the nearly equal, two-faced nature of January 2005 makes for an almost statistical wash.

 

************************************************************************

 

EVENT OF THE MONTH

 

A complex winter storm affected the northeastern states on January 22nd and 23rd dropping the heaviest snowfall of the season. Six to nine inches of snow fell across Lancaster county, however, it was coastal New England that took the brunt of the storm. Up to three feet of snow and winds up to 80 mph produced blizzard conditions on Cape Cod as well as in Boston.

 

************************************************************************

 

JANUARY CLIMATOLOGY (MU Weather Station)

 

Average High Temp: 35.8 F

Average Low Temp: 22.3 F                                                   

Average Monthly Temp: 29.1 F                                         

(Departure from Normal: -1.1 F)

                                        

Snowfall: 13.5 inches

(Departure from Normal: +5.5)

Total Precipitation (liquid equivalent): 3.72 inches  

(Departure from Normal: +0.71)   

 

************************************************************************

 

FEBRUARY NORMALS, RECORDS & FACTS

 

Normal high/low temperatures range from 39/21 during the first week of the month to 45/26 by month’s end. The record high for February is 78 degrees (25th in 1930) and the record low is –17 F (7th in 1935). Normal liquid precipitation (rain and melted snow) is 2.47 inches. Average snowfall for the month is about 8.2 inches.

 

************************************************************************

 

FEBRUARY OUTLOOK

 

Winter 2004-2005 has evolved in a cyclic manner with alternating periods of definitively above- and below-normal conditions. December began 4.5 degrees above normal from the 1st through the 13th, before flipping to 5.2 degrees below normal from December 14th through the 28th. The cycle continued in dramatic fashion into January. The period December 29th through January 14th averaged about 10 degrees above normal, before the pattern flopped an average of 11-degree below normal from January 15th until February 2nd. This cycle looks to continue through February.

 

February 3rd through the 9th will feature an absence of arctic influence while the southern jet stream pumps mild air into areas from the plains to the east coast. A dramatic warm-up will occur west of the Appalachians with several days in the 50s and 60s possible. Lingering snow cover and stubborn low-level chill will blunt the warm-up east of the Appalachians. High temperatures could make a one-day run to near 50 degrees (possibly around February 8), however, the average anomaly for this brief “February Thaw” should be limited to about 5 degrees above normal.

 

Winter “part deux” looks to begin around February 10th as a trough redevelops in the East. Although it’s impossible to forecast any details, I would expect a couple weeks of below normal conditions as well as the opportunity for additional snowfall. Don’t put the shovel away just yet!

 

COPYRIGHT 2005 Millersville University

 

Published monthly by the Millersville University Weather Information Center.

Subscribe on our homepage at www.atmos.millersville.edu/~wic

 

************************************************************************

             *** Bookmark our web site at: www.atmos.millersville.edu/~wic ***

************************************************************************