KENTUCKY MONTHLY AND ANNUAL CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR -- 2010 By: Tom Priddy--UK Agricultural Weather Center * Based on Preliminary Data. Graphs of Kentucky Monthly Temperature and Rainfall available at: http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/climgraphs/ and weekly graphs available within the UKAWC Kentucky Weather Information Web site. Sources: UKAWC, NCDC and Midwest Regional Climate Center --- Kentucky Climate Summary *For December 2010* Below Normal Temperature and Below Normal Precipitation This past December was cold, in fact the average temperature for the month was the 5th coldest December on record. Most every day lows were below the freezing mark, with several days staying below the freezing mark for highs. Snowfall started early in the month, with Frankfort having received 5 inches the first week of the month. Intermittent light to moderate snowfall continued thru the month, with some locations getting ice on a couple occasions. For much of the month many locations, especially north and east, had snow or ice accumulations on the ground. It was only after the light snowfall around the 25th that snow began melt away. Temperatures for the period averaged 28.4 degrees across the state which was 8.8 degrees cooler than normal and 16 degrees cooler than the previous period. High temperatures averaged from 38.8 in the West to 35.0 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 8.3 degrees cooler than normal in the West to 12.7 degrees cooler than normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 21.4 degrees in the West to 21.7 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 7.7 degrees cooler than normal in the West to 5.3 degrees cooler than normal in the East. The extreme high temperature for the period was 68.5 degrees at Cumberland County and the extreme low was -5.3 degrees at Madison County. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 3.13 inches statewide which was 1.1 inches below normal and 74.0% of normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 2.82 inches, Central 3.51 inches, Bluegrass 2.58 inches and East 3.61 inches, which was 1.77, 1.08, 1.12 and 0.44 inches below normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.90 inches at Lewis County to a high of 5.12 inches at Calloway County. Dewpoint temperatures for the state averaged near 23.6 degrees. *Preliminary Data* --- Kentucky Climate Summary For November 2010 Above Normal Temperature and Above Normal Precipitation This November started off just like October and the late summer months, dry and warmer than normal. This helped to further worsen drought conditions all across the state, especially in the west along the Ohio River. However; November did not stay dry as two widespread heavy rainfall systems moved into the Commonwealth late in the month. Rainfall was heaviest in places where it was needed the most, along the Ohio River in the western half of the state. These two systems late in the month were enough to take what would have been one of the driest Augusts thru Novembers, to only the 33rd driest August thru November and total removal of hydrological and agricultural drought conditions in Kentucky by the end of November. Temperatures remained around normal toward the end of the month; however it did cool down enough for some light snowfall a couple of times. Temperatures for the period averaged 48 degrees across the state which was 2 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 59 in the West to 59 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 1 degree below normal in the West to 3 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 37 degrees in the West to 36 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 1 degree below normal in the West to 2 degrees above normal in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 4.64 inches statewide which was 0.61 inches above normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 5.44 inches, Central 5.29 inches, Bluegrass 4.07 inches and East 3.94 inches, which was 0.98, 1.00, 0.40 and 0.21 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 2.47 inches at Dix Dam to a high of 6.92 inches at Covington. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For October 2010 Above Normal Temperature and Below Normal Rainfall Just like September, this October was drier and warmer than normal. Each week this October, except the last, had below normal rainfall. In fact many locations reported no rainfall each week. If it was not for the cold front that moved across the state late in the month, this October would have been one of the driest on record. This is much different than the October we experienced just one year ago. Most days were cloud free across the state, and along with the very dry conditions this created some large differences in daily high and low temperatures. Most everyday highs were above normal; however overnight lows were able to drop below normal most every night. This provided widespread frost and even a freeze several mornings toward the end of the month. Temperatures for the period averaged 58 degrees across the state which was 1 degree above normal. High temperatures averaged from 75 in the West to 71 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 4 degrees above normal in the West to 4 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 44 degrees in the West to 44 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees below normal in the West to 2 degrees below normal in the East. Rainfall for the period totaled 1.71 inches statewide which was 1.41 inches below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 1.58 inches, Central 1.72 inches, Bluegrass 1.45 inches and East 1.99 inches, which was 0.77, 0.60, 0.73 and 0.34 inches respectively below normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 0.67 inches at Hardinsburg to a high of 2.23 inches at Nolin Lake. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For September 2010 Above Normal Temperature and Below Normal Rainfall For many locations across the Commonwealth this was a September to remember. Most notably having had a record month was Louisville, which experienced the driest September ever and had 3 record high daily high temperatures in a row. This September was also the 2nd driest in Frankfort, tied for 6th driest in Lexington, and the 9th driest on record in Jackson. Rainfal amounts show that this was the 17th driest September for the state as a whole. High temperatures across the Commonwealth were also quite a bit above normal, with places like Louisville, Bowling Green, Hardinsburg, Lexington, Henderson, Mayfield, and Princeton having had double digit days above 90. For comfort this September was fortunately not as humid as August was, keeping the heat index down and livestock heat stress to a minimum. However; the dry air and hot afternoons only further dried up vegetation, making this past September a month to forget for farmers. Temperatures for the period averaged 70 degrees across the state which was 2 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 85 in the West to 81 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 4 degrees above normal in the West to 4 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 58 degrees in the West to 57 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 0 degrees from normal in the West to 1 degree above normal in the East. Rainfall for the period totaled 1.72 inches statewide which was 1.77 inches below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 1.60 inches, Central 1.34 inches, Bluegrass 1.24 inches and East 2.42 inches, which was 1.01, 1.22, 1.27 and 0.33 inches respectively below normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 0.12 inches at Louisville to a high of 5.71 inches at Somerset. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For August 2010 Above Normal Temperature and Below Normal Rainfall This past August was one of the warmest on record, and the average for the month was the 8th warmest for the state as a whole. For Louisville this was the 3rd warmest on record and in Jackson it was the 7th. Daytime high temperatures were noticeably high for the month, with Lexington, Louisville, and Paducah all having the majority of days at or above 90 degrees. For the first half of the month the Commonwealth also experienced very high humidity levels. This caused heat indices to get above the 110 degree mark in several locations multiple days, and also caused livestock heat stress to get to the emergency level statewide multiple days as well. Rainfall was sporadic across the state and came mostly from scattered to isolated storms. One large rainfall event did occur this August, dumping almost all of the rainfall in the south central and south eastern parts of the state. For some locations record rain fell from this event, which helped to get the Central and Eastern climate divisions around to above normal rainfall for the month. Temperatures for the period averaged 78 degrees across the state which was 3 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 93 in the West to 87 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 5 degrees above normal in the West to 3 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 69 degrees in the West to 66 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees above normal in the West to 4 degrees above normal in the East. Rainfall for the period totaled 3.31 inches statewide which was 0.39 inches below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 2.12 inches, Central 3.79 inches, Bluegrass 1.38 inches and East 5.18 inches, which was -0.65, +0.39, -1.80 and +1.13 inches respectively from normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 0.49 inches at Henderson to a high of 7.81 inches at Glasgow. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For July 2010 Above Normal Temperature and Slightly Above Normal Rainfall This past July had above normal temperature just like the previous 3 months. Emergency livestock heat stress was reached on a couple occasions during July, for the central and western parts of the Commonwealth. Rainfall was slightly above normal for the state as a whole; however the Western climate division received far less than the rest of the state. The Bluegrass division received the most rain, with around twice as much rainfall as the Western division. Temperatures for the period averaged 79 degrees across the state which was 3 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 91 in the West to 87 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees above normal in the West to 1 degree above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 71 degrees in the West to 68 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 5 degrees above normal in the West to 3 degrees above normal in the East. Rainfall for the period totaled 4.50 inches statewide which was 0.03 inches above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 2.12 inches, Central 5.09 inches, Bluegrass 5.51 inches and East 5.23 inches, which was -1.35, +0.43, +0.60 and +0.29 inches respectively from normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.36 inches at Paducah to a high of 6.98 inches at Campbellsville. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For June 2010 Above Normal Temperature and Slightly Below Normal Rainfall This June was the 4th warmest on record, mostly caused by a strong upper ridge over the southeast which pumped plenty of warm air into the Commonwealth. In fact, this was the warmest June on record for Louisville, Jackson, and London and was in the top ten warmest for Paducah, Bowling Green, Lexington, and Frankfort. Unlike last May, rainfall this past June did not come over a couple days but was instead spread out over the month in the form of scattered thunderstorms. For the state as a whole rainfall was just below normal, with the Bluegrass climate division having received the most and the western division the least. Temperatures for the period averaged 77 degrees across the state which was 5 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 89 in the West to 86 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees above normal in the West to 3 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 70 degrees in the West to 67 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 7 degrees above normal in the West to 5 degrees above normal in the East. Rainfall for the period totaled 3.89 inches statewide which was 0.45 inches below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 2.69 inches, Central 4.10 inches, Bluegrass 4.73 inches and East 4.10 inches, which was -0.65, 0.02, +0.49 and -0.04 inches respectively from normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.43 inches at Hardinsburg to a high of 7.64 inches at Williamstown. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For May 2010 Above Normal Temperature and Above Normal Rainfall May 2010 was the first month since October 2009 that has been above normal in rainfall for the state as a whole. The main reason for the wet month was the first two days of the month, when record rain fell in the state. During this short two day period, many locations received nearly and even above their normal rainfall for the entire month of May. This caused a great deal of flooding, leaving fields saturated for a couple weeks. Besides those two record wet days the rest of the month was near normal and even below normal for rainfall in some locations. Temperature wise May was near normal, with the last full week in the month being well above normal causing the overall average to be above normal. Temperatures for the period averaged 67 degrees across the state which was 3 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 78 in the West to 76 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 2 degrees below normal in the West to 1 degree above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 60 degrees in the West to 57 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees above normal in the West to 2 degrees above normal in the East. Rainfall for the period totaled 8.01 inches statewide which was 2.96 inches above normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 6.09 inches, Central 10.54 inches, Bluegrass 10.22 inches and East 6.67 inches, which was 1.10, 5.27, 4.60 and 1.82 inches respectively above normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 5.19 inches at Cumberland Gap to a high of 11.28 inches at Campbellsville. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For April 2010 Above Normal Rainfall and Below Normal Rainfall This past April made for the 6th month in a row with below normal precipitation, which had only one week with above normal precipitation. Bluegrass and Eastern climate divisions were the driest, nearly being an inch below normal precipitation. However; despite April having been drier than normal and portions of the state seeing preliminary signs of drought from previous dry months, mainly Central and Bluegrass divisions, timely and soaking rains early and late in the month helped to ease our dry conditions this year. By the end of April the drought monitor held parts of Central and Bluegrass climate divisions in moderate hydrologic and agricultural drought. Temperatures, especially highs, were noticeably above normal in the Commonwealth, which broke the previous 4 month streak of below normal temperature. Temperatures for the period averaged 60 degrees across the state which was 4 degrees above normal. High temperatures averaged from 73 in the West to 72 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 3 degrees above normal in the West to 7 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 50 degrees in the West to 46 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 4 degrees above normal in the West to 2 degrees above normal in the East. Rainfall for the period totaled 3.12 inches statewide which was 1.07 inches below normal. Rainfall totals by climate division, West 3.70 inches, Central 3.82 inches, Bluegrass 2.19 inches and East 2.81 inches, which was 0.83, 0.38, 1.70 and 1.11 inches respectively below normal. By station, rainfall totals ranged from a low of 1.92 inches at Covington to a high of 4.73 inches at Hardinsburg. Kentucky Precipitation Departure. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For March 2010 Near Normal Temperature and Below Normal Precipitation The Commonwealth experienced another dry month, making this March the 5th month in a row with below normal precipitation. The Bluegrass and Central climate divisions were the driest, with the Western division only slightly below normal. This puts most of the Bluegrass division and parts of the Central division, 36% of the state, in the abnormally dry category for drought. In fact many locations around the state are 3 to 6 inches below normal since January 1st. Temperatures for the month started off cool, but quickly warmed up for a near normal March. However, day time highs near the end of the month certainly ended March on a warm note. Temperatures for the period averaged 46 degrees across the state which was 0 degrees from normal. High temperatures averaged from 57 in the West to 56 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 3 degrees below normal in the West to 2 degrees above normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 38 degrees in the West to 36 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 3 degrees above normal in the West to 3 degrees above normal in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 2.74 inches statewide which was 1.85 inches below normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 3.78 inches, Central 2.42 inches, Bluegrass 1.99 inches and East 2.58 inches, which was 0.90, 2.45, 2.36 and 1.82 inches respectively below normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.05 inches at Spindletop to a high of 4.24 inches at Paducah. Kentucky Temperature Departure and Precipitation Departure. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For February 2010 Below Normal Temperature and Below Normal Precipitation Strong El Nino conditions in the equatoral Pacific provided the Bluegrass state with winter weather unlike the past 30 years. Winter’s cold grip peaked this February, with it having the furthest below normal temperatures of the winter months and the 14th coldest February on record. The month started off cold and ended cold with every week having below normal temperatures, giving no hint of early Spring warm weather. Some locations this month were even cold enough to go into the records in the top ten for coldest February ever. Precipitation was well below normal just like each other month this winter and was the 24th driest on record. Western sections of the state were by far the driest, with only far eastern portions of the Commonwealth being close to normal. Despite being well short of normal precipitation, many locations such as Louisville, Lexington, and Jackson were around 8 inches above normal for snowfall. Temperatures for the period averaged 30 degrees across the state which was 7 degrees below normal and was identical to January's average temperature. High temperatures averaged from 39 in the West to 37 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 11 degrees below normal in the West to 8 degrees below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 24 degrees in the West to 24 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 3 degrees below normal in the West to 1 degree below normal in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 2.34 inches statewide which was 1.42 inches below normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 1.51 inches, Central 2.62 inches, Bluegrass 2.00 inches and East 2.99 inches, which was 1.31, 0.47, 0.69 and 0.32 inches respectively below normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.19 inches at Covington to a high of 3.11 inches at Jackson. --- Kentucky Climate Summary For January 2010 Below Average Temperatures and Just Below Normal Precipitation Looking at the averages it would seem that January was calm just like December. However; taking a closer look shows that the month contained quite a few extremes. Right off the bat January started cold, with the first full week of the month 14 degrees below normal mean temperatures for the state. Many locations even spent record amounts of time consecutively below the freezing mark for the first half of the month. By the 2nd and 3rd full week much warmer temperatures entered the state, which even had mean temperatures 13 degrees above normal for the Commonwealth. After the brief warm period, temperatures plummeted to end the month on a cold note. Precipitation amounts varied throughout the state, and despite below normal precipitation snowfall exceeded normal amounts in most all locations. This made up for the lack of snowfall in December. North central and western areas were slightly below average for precipitation; however the south central and east were above average. Temperatures for the period averaged 30 degrees across the state which was 3 degrees below normal and 6 degrees cooler than the previous month. High temperatures averaged from 38 in the West to 37 in the East. Departure from normal high temperatures ranged from 5 degrees below normal in the West to 2 degrees below normal in the East. Low temperatures averaged from 23 degrees in the West to 24 degrees in the East. Departure from normal low temperature ranged from 1 degree below normal in the West to 1 degree above normal in the East. Precipitation (liq. equ.) for the period totaled 3.58 inches statewide which was 0.19 inches below normal. Precipitation totals by climate division, West 3.20 inches, Central 3.98 inches, Bluegrass 2.67 inches and East 4.18 inches, which was -0.23, +0.06, -0.44 and +0.17 inches respectively from normal. By station, precipitation totals ranged from a low of 1.76 inches at Covington to a high of 4.93 inches at Cumberland Gap. ---