Narrative Summary - January 2004

The average temperature for January 2004 was colder than normal, averaging 29.2ºF, 2.6º below normal (31.8ºF).
The warmest January occurred in 1953 and averaged 42.5ºF, while the coldest, in 1950, averaged 12.1ºF. The
minimum temperature of -14ºF on January 5 was the coldest temperature recorded at the Hanford Meteorological
Station (HMS) since a low of -18ºF on February 1, 1996, and the first subzero reading in more than five years (since
-1ºF on December 21, 1998). One of the Hanford Meteorological Monitoring Network stations (near the 200 West
area) recorded a minimum of -24ºF. The following daily temperature records were established in January: 

                               New         Old
Date          Category         Record     Record       Year
   4          Low Minimum       -7          -6         1950
   5          Low Maximum        8          12         1950
   5          Low Minimum      -14          -7         1950

Precipitation for January 2004 totaled 2.12 inches, 244% of normal (0.87 inches), the 4th wettest January on
record. The wettest January, in 1970, received 2.47 inches; and the driest (1977) received 0.08 inch. Snowfall
for January 2004 totaled 19.1 inches, compared to a normal of 4.2 inches, and was the 2nd snowiest January on
record. The snowiest January, in 1950, received 23.4 inches. The snowfall total of 11.4 inches on January 1
established a new 24-hr snowfall record at the HMS. The previous record was 10.2 inches on February 18-19,
1993. Total snowfall for the 2003-2004 snow season (through January) is 27.1 inches, compared to a normal of
12.4 inches.

The average wind speed for January 2004 was 5.4 miles per hour (mph), 0.9 mph below normal (6.3 mph). The
windiest January on record averaged 10.3 mph (1972), while the January with the lightest winds (1985)
averaged 2.9 mph. The peak gust for the month was 63 mph on December 30 The record wind gust for January
was 80 mph in 1972.

The period from December 27, 2003 through January 23, 2004 recorded 28 consecutive cloudy days, which tied
the HMS record for consecutive cloudy days (also having occurred January 30 through February 26, 1958). A
cloudy day is defined as having an average cloud cover of 7.5 or greater (out of a possible 10) between the
hours of sunrise and sunset.

The monthly climatological data summaries, as well as other information, are available
on the Internet. Address: http://etd.pnl.gov:2080/HMS/. Hanford Site personnel can
access the HMS Intranet site at: http://hms.rl.gov/

For additional information contact:
Ken Burk373-3215
Dana Hoitink372-6414

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.