January Temperatures
Preliminary data indicates that the statewide average temperature in January was 39.1°F; this was 5.0°F above the 1981-2010 normal of 34.1°F (Figure 1). January 2017 was the 14th warmest January since records began in 1895, and was 0.1°F warmer than December 2016. January 2017 was also the 8th month in a row with above normal temperatures across the First State.
January Precipitation
Delaware’s statewide precipitation for January 2017 averaged 3.21 inches, 0.11 inches below the 1981-2010 mean (Figure 2). A significant snowstorm blanketed the state on January 7th. This storm dropped over 10 inches of snow on some locations in Sussex County. Cold temperatures followed the storm with minimum temperatures dipping below zero in many snow-covered locations across Sussex County on the morning of January 9th (Figure 3).
Statewide Spatial Averages
Data from the Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) shows that temperatures were above normal across the entire State, with departures reaching over 5.0°F in many locations (Figure 4). Total liquid precipitation was near, or just below normal across the entire State (Figure 5).
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- Figure 1. Delaware statewide mean January temperature (°F) 1895-2017. Red line indicates 1981-2010 normal.
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- Figure 2. Delaware statewide January precipitation (inches) 1895-2017. Red line indicates 1981-2010 normal.
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- Figure 3. Minimum temperatures on January 9th, 2017 based upon DEOS station data.
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- Figure 4. January 2017 average temperature departures (°F) from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.
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- Figure 5. January 2017 precipitation departures (inches) from the 1981-2010 mean based upon DEOS station data.
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