January's numbers are in, and even with record cold temperatures to start the year across the eastern half of the U.S., the western half remained sizzling and this warmth offset the record cold experienced in the east. On average, the contiguous United States ranked among the warmest third of the 123-year period on record. The average temperature was 32.2 degrees Fahrenheit; this is 2.1 degrees above average.
In Florida, the temperatures remained below normal. In fact, this was the coldest January since 2014. The average temperature for the month was 54.8 degrees Fahrenheit -- that’s 2.9 degrees below average.
Read more: Report: Cold snap killed 35 manatees in Florida in January
It wasn’t extreme cold, but at least that broke the 22-consecutive-month record of having above-average temperatures.
LOCAL VARIATION
At a more local level average temperature values for January 2018 varied. Most local primary sites remained below average, except Melbourne.
- Daytona Beach had a monthly average temperature of 55.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 2.3 degrees below normal.
- Sanford had a monthly average temperature of 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 2.6 degrees below normal.
- Orlando had a monthly average temperature of 58.0 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 2.2 degrees below normal.
- Melbourne had a monthly average temperature of 61.9 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 1.6 degrees above normal.
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RAINFALL & DROUGHT
LOCAL RAINFALL RANKING
A couple of fronts passed over Central Florida and produce someheavier amounts, mainly localliazed ni Volusia and Lake Counties. Record was broken in Daytona Beach on Jan. 9, when 1.42 inches on rain fell, breaking the previous record of 0.91 inches last set in 1953.
Overall January remain mostly dry with below average rainfall across many inland locations. Here is how the primary weather locations ended:
- Daytona Beach received 6.46 inches of rain for the month, which was 3.72 inches above normal. This ranks as the 5th wettest January on record for this site, with records going back to 1923.
- Sanford received 2.35 inches of rain for the month, which was 0.27 inches below normal.
- Orlando received 2.10 inches of rain for the month, which was 0.25 inches below normal.
- Melbourne received 2.93 inches of rain for the month, which was 0.66 inches above normal.