January was warmer than usual in the Quad Cities, and we didn't get as much snow.
From the WVIK Weather Desk, Michelle O'Neill reports the National Weather Service in Davenport has released its preliminary climate survey for the month.
Summary
The climate report says the average daily temperature in January was 6.2 degrees higher than normal. And Meteorologist Andy Ervin says the warmer temperatures are related to the lack of snow. "In January 0.4 inches of snow fell. That's 9 inches less than usual." And the lack of snow cover keeps temperatures higher.
Only one record was broken last month. Ervin says nearly an inch of rain (0.86 in.) fell on January 16, setting a new daily rainfall record for that date. And ice jams caused flooding along the Rock River.
The lack of snow may be a problem for farmers in southeastern Iowa, where the soil is abnormally dry.
And if you liked the weather in January, Ervin says we can expect more of the same - above average temperatures and below normal snowfall. But just one storm could change that.
The Quad Cities weather service will issue its first spring flood outlook on February 16.