January, 2022 Monthly Summary

Temperatures were much closer to normal or even a little below for the month of January, quite the contrast from the well above normal temperatures observed in December across the state. While January is normally one of the drier months of the year, much of southern Arkansas experienced very dry conditions with rainfall amounts more than 2-3 inches below normal for the month. 

Continuing through the 2021-2022 winter season across Arkansas, January was much closer to normal in terms of temperatures compared to December. While not all that uncommon, a few rounds of winter weather were seen across the state with some locally very heavy snow noted across the higher terrain of northern Arkansas at times. Unlike the change in temperature observed this past month, rainfall deficits remained across the southern half of the state leading to persistent drought conditions.  

While no severe weather occurred at the start of the new year, a strong cold front moved into the state bringing a sharp divide to Arkansas with very cold air moving in across the northwest while temperatures approached 80 degrees across the southeast. Before cold air overspread the state entirely, some very heavy rain fell across portions of northern and western Arkansas. After the cold air moved across the state and the main storm system departed the area some very light snow/sleet was observed on January 2nd. Ground temperatures were warm in most places and there wasn't much in the way of impacts. 

Not long after this round of cold air at the beginning of the month, another cold front moved across the state on January 5th. As a weak area of low pressure moved along the front and interacted with cold air in place across the area some light snow developed across mainly northern Arkansas through the morning hours of January 6th. Amounts were generally low with a few spots across northeast Arkansas picking up two inches. 

While there was some concern for winter weather from January 8-9, 2022, heavy rain was the most common weather hazard during that period. As a weak storm system moved across the state with a stalled front oriented from southwest to northeast across Arkansas rain was persistent during much of that timeframe. Areas from Little Rock northeastward toward Jonesboro picked up over two inches of rain. The Cooperative Weather Observer in Cabot (Lonoke County) picked up over four inches of rainfall.

From January 11-13 a period of dry weather with above normal temperatures was observed across much of the state before a major winter weather event was expected for the middle of the month. Before any winter weather occurred, a major geological event occurred on January 13th when a massive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano occurred near the Kingdom of Tonga, a Polynesian country in the South Pacific. 

While rain was widespread during the day on January 15th, precipitation started out as snow across northwest Arkansas. Cold air moved across the state with temperatures falling from west to east and rain transitioning to snow. The cold air struggle to move into eastern portions of Arkansas but was firmly in place across northern and western parts of the state. With abundant moisture in place where the coldest air was located, some very heavy snowfall totals were observed across portions of the Ozarks and Ouachitas. Light snow was observed across much of the rest of the state as well. 

After a brief break in storm systems across the area, yet another disturbance would bring moisture to the state January 19-20. Rain and thunderstorms were seen across southern Arkansas with light snow observed across northern areas. Near Marshall (Searcy County) additional snowfall amounts were the highest, in the 2-3 inch range. In the wake of this system, very cold air moved into the state for January 20-21. Some locations with snow on the ground experienced lows in the single digits during the morning of the 22nd. Harrison (Boone County) recorded a low temperature of 3° F during the morning of the 21st. With some light wind in place, wind chill values across northern Arkansas fell below zero for a few hours as well. 

With widespread meaningful rain still lacking across southern Arkansas into late January, drought conditions began to worsen. The Drought Monitor indicated D1-D2 conditions becoming fairly widespread across the southern third of the state. Some D3 conditions were in place as well, across far southeast Arkansas. For the latest on drought conditions in Arkansas, follow the link below. 

Fairly benign and dry weather conditions were noted through the end of the month with only some very light snow observed across northern Arkansas from late on the 26th through the morning hours of January 27th. Cooler temperatures were briefly noted from January 27-29 before a warming trend began on January 30th.