Narrative Summary - January 1996

January 1996 was cooler than normal, averaging 28.8ºF, 2.5º below normal
(31.3ºF). Temperatures during the first half of the month averaged 7.1º above
normal, while during the second half of the month temperatures averaged 12.4º
below normal. The last week of January averaged 19.9º below normal, bottoming
out with a minimum temperature of -18ºF on January 31. This was the coldest
temperature recorded at the Hanford Meteorology Station since a low of -22ºF
was recorded on January 26, 1957. The warmest January averaged 42.5ºF (1953);
while the coldest averaged only 12.1ºF (1950). No daily temperature records
were established during January 1996.

Precipitation for January 1996 totaled 1.42 inches, 180% of normal (0.79
inch). The wettest January, in 1970, received 2.47 inches, while the driest,
in 1977, received only 0.08 inch. January snowfall totaled 16.7 inches, the
third snowiest January on record, compared to a January normal of 3.9 inches.
The snowiest January, in 1950, received 23.4 inches, while January 1994
received no snow at all. Total winter season snowfall through January 1996
was 21.7 inches (normal snowfall through January is 11.5 inches).

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.