January 2010 Highlights

January 2010

Tulsa: January 2010 was 19th coldest (33.7°F, since 1905), tied as the 26th wettest (2.36", since 1888), and was the 14th snowiest (7.3", since 1900) January on record.

Tulsa: A record snowfall of 6.4" was set on 01/29/2010. The previous record was 1.6" in 1979. This is the 4th highest daily snowfall total in January since records began in 1900.

Tulsa: The 18-day period from December 24, 2009 - January 10, 2010 was the coldest since records began in 1905 with an average temperature of 23.3°F. This was also the coldest average maximum temperature (31.1°F) and the second coldest minimum temperature (15.2°F, coldest was in 1912) for these dates. Interestingly, no daily temperature records were tied or set during this time period.

Tulsa: January 2010 ranked as 19th for the greatest number of heating degree days (963) in the month of January since records began in 1905. Out of the top 25 highest number of heating degree days in January, the most recent one prior to this year was in 1985.

Fort Smith: January 2010 was the 33rd coldest (36.9°F), 25th snowiest (4.0"), and 42nd wettest (2.92") January since records began in 1882.

Fort Smith: A record snowfall of 4.0" was set on 01/29/2010. The previous record was 1.5" in 1979.

Fort Smith: January 2010 tied with 1959 as 31st for the greatest number of heating degree days (864) in the month of January since records began in 1882.

There were several rounds of wintery precipitation across the area in January 2010, with the greatest impact from the Winter Storm that affected the region on January 28-29. Snow and sleet totals ranged from 1-7 inches, preceded by ice accumulations up to 3/4 of an inch. Click here for a detailed summary of the storm, including a snow/ice accumulation map, radar imagery, and impacts.

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) outlook for February 2010 (issued Jan. 31, 2010) indicated a slightly enhance chance for above normal precipitation and equal chances for above, near, and below normal temperatures. For the 3-month period Feb-Mar-Apr 2010, CPC is forecasting a slightly enhanced chance for below normal temperatures and equal chances for above, near, and below normal precipitation (outlook issued Jan. 21, 2010).

Sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific indicate that strong El Nino conditions currently exist. According to CPC, El Nino is expected to continue, through gradually weaken, through the spring, and the one- and three-month outlooks are based on the general impacts expected during El Nino events.

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Arctic Oscillation (AO) continued to be negative during the first part of January 2010. Much of the eastern half of the U.S., including eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas, tend to see below normal temperatures during the negative phase of the AO. These strong negative anomalies have likely overwhelmed the El Nino signal and may have played a role in the cold December of 2009 and first part of January 2010.

According to the Drought Monitor, no drought conditions exist across eastern OK or northwest AR.