Narrative Summary - January 2008

The average temperature for January 2008 was cooler than normal, 27.2ºF, 4.6º below normal (31.8ºF). The
warmest January (1953) averaged 42.5ºF, while the coldest (1950) averaged 12.1ºF. There were no new
temperature records in January 2008.




Precipitation for January 2008 totaled 1.28 inches, 147% of normal (0.87 inches).  The wettest January (1970) 

received 2.47 inches, and the driest (1977) received 0.08 inch.  Precipitation for the water year (October 2007-

September 2008) through January 2008 is 3.15 inches compared to a normal of 3.45 inches.  Snowfall for 

January 2008 totaled 16.7 inch, compared to a normal of 4.2 inches, and a record maximum snowfall of 23.4 

inches (1950).  Snowfall for the 2007-2008 snowfall season through January is 22.5 inches, compared to a 

normal of 12.4 inches.  



The average wind speed for January 2008 was 7.2 miles per hour (mph), which was 0.9 mph above normal (6.3 

mph).  The windiest January on record (1972) averaged 10.3 mph, while the January with the lightest winds 

(1985) averaged 2.9 mph. The peak gust for January 2008 was 51 mph on January 5.  The record wind gust for 

January was 80 mph in 1972.



The monthly climatological data summaries, as well as other information, are available on the Internet.  

Address:  http://hms.pnl.gov/ 



For additional information contact: 




Ken Burk373-3215


HMS Office373-2716




Note:  The information in this summary pertains specifically to

   the Hanford Meteorology Station (HMS), which is located

   approximately 25 miles northwest of Richland, Washington.  No

   attempt should be made to infer meteorological conditions at other

   locations from these data.