January 2021 Climate Summary and Highlights

January 2021 Climate Summary and Highlights

Overall it was a relatively warm and wet January. Below are some highlights from our three primary climate stations.

Wichita

Monthly average temperature 35.6 degrees, 3.4 degree above normal.
Tied for 28th warmest January since records began in 1889, warmest since 2020.
Warmest temperature 58 degrees on the 18th and 21st.
Coldest temperature 19 degrees on the 3rd, 12th, 28th.
Monthly precipitation 2.86 inches, 2.03 inches above normal.
4th wettest January on record, wettest since 2005.
First time on record the city has seen two daily rainfall totals of at least 1 inch in January.
Monthly snowfall 6.5 inches, 2.9 inches above normal.
Tied for 25th snowiest January on record, snowiest since 2007.

Salina

Monthly average temperature 34.8 degrees, 3.8 degree above normal.
22nd warmest January since records began in 1900, warmest since 2017.
Warmest temperature 64 on the 13th.
Coldest temperature 7 on the 28th.
Monthly precipitation 0.99 inches, 0.36 inches above normal.
34th wettest January on record, wettest since 2019.

Chanute

Monthly average temperature 37.1 degrees, 4.5 degree above normal.
Tied for 20th warmest January since records began in 1894, warmest since 2020.
Warmest temperature 56 on the 13th.
Coldest temperature 21 on the 9th.
Monthly precipitation 3.05 inches, 1.79 inches above normal.
8th wettest January on record, wettest since 2005.

Temperatures
Precipitation
Miscellaneous

January Temperatures

January 2021 Average Temperatures	January 2021 Temperature Departure from Normal

Kansas January 2021 average temperatures (the average of each daily high and low temperature).	Kansas January 2021 average temperature departures. With the exception of far western portions, the entire state was warmer than normal for the month.

January 2021 Warmest Temperatures	January 2021 Coldest Temperatures

The warmest temperatures recorded during January 2021 across Kansas were mostly in the 50s and 60s.	The coldest temperatures recorded during January 2021 across Kansas ranged from below zero across the west, to low 20s across the southeast.

January 2021 Temperature Rankings

Kansas January 2021 temperature rankings by division. One denotes the warmest January on record (since 1893), 129 denotes the coolest. All divisions were warmer than normal, most pronounced across north-central and northeast divisions.

January Precipitation

January 2021 Precipitation	January 2021 Precipitation Percent of Normal

Kansas January 2021 precipitation. This map constitutes a mix of observations and radar estimates.	Kansas January 2021 precipitation percent of normal. Much of central and eastern portions were much wetter than normal. Meanwhile, a good portion of western Kansas was drier than normal.

January 2021 Snowfall	January 2021 Snowfall Departure from Normal

Kansas January 2021 observed snowfall. Northern portions of the state saw some hefty snowfall totals near one foot.	Kansas January 2021 snowfall departure from normal. Large pockets of above normal snowfall were observed, most pronounced across north-central Kansas.

January 2021 Precipitation Rankings

Kansas January 2021 precipitation rankings by division. One denotes the wettest January on record (since 1893), 129 denotes the driest. Most divisions were wetter than normal, most pronounced across the eastern two-thirds, with east-central and southeast Kansas experiencing a top-ten wettest January.

Miscellaneous Climate Information

January 2021 Winter Weather Advisories	January 2021 Winter Storm Warnings

The number of winter weather advisories issued across Kansas in January for adverse wintry weather.	The number of winter storm warnings issued across Kansas in January for adverse wintry weather.

January 2021 Red Flag Warnings	January 2021 High Wind Warnings

The number of Kansas red flag warnings issued in January for extreme grassland fire danger.	The number of Kansas high wind warnings issued in January for very strong winds.

January 2021 Tornado Warnings	Kansas Tornado Warnings per Month Since 1986

A couple rare January tornado warnings were issued across far southeast Kansas late in the month.	The two tornado warnings issued across far southeast Kansas late in the month were the first January tornado warnings issued in Kansas since at least 1986.

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