Dense Fog for the Center of the Nation; Severe Thunderstorms Across the South; Parade of Pacific Storms Continue

Series of Pacific storms will continue to significantly impact portions of the West through this last weekend of 2024; Strong winds, high surf, heavy lower elevation rain and heavy mountain snow expected. Across the Plains, low visibility and dense fog will make for travel difficulties as warmer air lifts north. This will fuel severe thunderstorms across several southern states on Saturday. Read More >

January 2018 was generally warmer and drier than normal. Only the southeast had below normal temperatures, while small of the west approached normal precipitation.

The first nine days of the month were mostly dry. After a very cold start to the year, temperatures recovered to above normal by the third or fourth, and remained mild through the ninth. A significant storm system finally arrived on the tenth, bringing snow to the western and northern mountains and rain to the valleys. The east central and southeast plains missed out on the moisture. More dry and mostly above normal temperatures ensued from the 10th through 14th. A strong back door cold front delivered much colder air to the east on the 15th, which spilled into the Rio Grande Valley to the Continental Divide early on the 16th. Light snow and freezing drizzle fell over the northeast on the 15th with dense freezing fog. This made roads especially icy and dicey. Another very weak disturbance brought sprinkles and flurries in the western mountains on the 17th. A significant warm up on the 18th and 19th gave way to a disturbance on the weekend of the 20th and 21st. This was a decent storm with snow across the western and northern mountains and even into the valleys, and strong winds over the mountains and east. Very cold air also settled in on the 21st. The atmosphere settled down again from the 22nd through the end of the month. Temperatures climbed above normal for the most part, aside from a chilly spell on the 26th and 27th.

Statewide Precipitation and Temperatures

Statewide Precipitation - Actual	Statewide Temperatures - Actual


Statewide Precipitation - Percent Of Normal	Statewide Temperatures - Departure From Normal

Climate Cities Temperatures and Precipitation

Albuquerque

There was only 0.03 inches of precipitation measured at the Sunport in January 2018, compared to the normal of 0.38 inches, or 0.35 inches below normal. This tied for the 18th driest January on record.

There was a trace of snow compared to the normal of 2.1 inches. Only two January's have had no snow in January, while 19 have had a trace.

The average temperature for Albuquerque in January 2018 was 38.9°, which was 2.5 degrees above the normal of 36.4°.

The average maximum temperature for the month was 51.8°. This was 5.0 degrees above the normal average maximum temperature of 46.8°.

The average minimum temperature for the month was 26.0°. This was 0.1 degrees below the normal average minimum temperature of 26.1 degrees.

Clayton

There was only a trace of precipitation measured at Clayton in January 2018, while the average is 0.36 inches. There have only been 3 years with 0.00 inches, while 14 January's had a trace of precipitation.

There was only a trace of snow, compared to the normal of 5.1 inches. Only five January's have had 0.0 inches of snow, while 11 years have reported a trace of snow.

The average temperature for Clayton in January 2018 was 37.8°, which was 2.4 degrees above the normal of 35.4°.

The average maximum temperature for the month was 54.2°. This was 5.3 degrees above the normal average maximum temperature of 48.9 degrees.

The average minimum temperature for the month was 21.4°. This was 0.5 degrees below the normal average minimum temperature of 21.9°.

Roswell

There was 0.07 inches of precipitation reported at Roswell during January 2018, which is 0.31 inches below the normal of 0.38 inches.

There was no snow in Roswell compared to the normal of 3.2 inches. There have been 13 January's with no snow.

The average temperature in Roswell for January 2018 was 40.4°, which was 0.2 degrees below the normal of 40.6 degrees.

The average maximum temperature for the month was 58.5°. This was 3.4 degrees above the average maximum temperature of 55.1 degrees.

The average minimum temperature for the month was 22.3°. This was 3.8 degrees below the normal average minimum temperature of 26.1°

Severe Weather
Storm reports are considered preliminary until a final review is certified in the NWS Storm Data publication.
Certified data is available three to four months post-event at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/

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Dense Fog for the Center of the Nation; Severe Thunderstorms Across the South; Parade of Pacific Storms Continue

January 2018 Weather Summary