January 2019 Climate Summary

Storm Impacting the Northwest U.S.; Fire Weather Conditions in Southern California; Severe Weather in the South

A Pacific storm is bringing areas of low elevation rain, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and high winds to the Northwest. Strong Santa Ana winds and very dry conditions are producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions in southern California. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through early Wednesday morning across parts of northeast Texas into western Tennessee. Read More >

...A Look Back at the Climate for the Month of January 2019 for Chicago and Rockford... At Chicago, the average high temperature was 27.5 degrees, which is 3.5 degrees below normal. The average low temperature was 14.5 degrees, which is 2.0 degrees below normal. The average temperature for the month was 21.0 degrees which is 2.8 degrees below normal. During the month of January, 1.96 inches of precipitation was recorded, which is 0.23 inches above normal. 18.2 inches of snow was recorded, which is 7.4 inches above normal. Five records were set for Chicago for the month of January 2019: * Record daily snowfall of 5.0 inches on the 28th. * Record daily minimum temperature of -23 degrees on the 30th. * Record daily lowest maximum temperature of -10 degrees on the 30th. * Record daily minimum temperature of -21 degrees on the 31st. * Tied daily lowest maximum temperature of 1 degree on the 31st. At Rockford, the average high temperature was 25.4 degrees, which is 4.1 degrees below normal. The average low temperature was 10.7 degrees, which is 2.8 degrees below normal. The average temperature for the month was 18.1 degrees, which is 3.4 degrees below normal. During the month of January, 2.27 inches of precipitation was recorded, which is 0.90 inches above normal. 24.9 inches of snow was recorded, which is 14.7 inches above normal. Eight records were set for Rockford for the month of January 2019: * Record daily precipitation of 0.53 inches on the 7th. * Record daily lowest maximum temperature of 1 degree on the 25th. * Record daily minimum temperature of -21 degrees on the 26th. * Record daily minimum temperature of -15 degrees on the 27th. * Record daily snowfall of 4.0 inches on the 28th. * Record daily minimum temperature of -25 degrees on the 30th. * Record daily lowest maximum temperature of -13 degrees on the 30th. * Record daily minimum temperature of -31 degrees on the 31st. One Top Ten Monthly Record: **Fourth snowiest January on record since 1905 with 24.9 inches. One Annual Record: *** Record daily minimum temperature of -31 degrees on the 31st.


January 2019 began with well-above normal temperatures through the first week, but that surplus was wiped-out by a period of historic cold to end the month. Precipitation was above normal for much of the area.	January 2019 snowfall was well-above normal for much of the area, with Rockford recording its 4th snowiest January since records began in 1905.