January 2012 Breaks Heat, Cold, Snow and Tornado Records
AccuWeather.com Facebook fan Penny N. shared this picture of her goldfish pond surrounded by 5-6 inches of snow in Spanaway,Wash., on Jan. 18, 2012.
The month of January has broken records for snowfall, high temperatures and low temperatures.
There have been 70 tornadoes so far in 2012, making this the third-most active January for tornadoes on record, according to AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Adrienne Velleux.
There were nine confirmed tornadoes on Jan. 17, 2012 alone in the states of Kentucky and Indiana.
Sunnyside, Nev., reported a record temperature of 14°F for the high on Jan. 17, 2012. The prior record was 18°F set on Jan. 5, 1971.
Temperatures reported at the Fairbanks International Airport in Alaska for the month of January so far are the coldest on record since 1972. Fairbanks has averaged a temperature of 24.5 degrees below zero for the dates of Jan. 1 through Jan. 26, 2012. The previous record of 22.9 degrees below zero was set between Jan. 1 through Jan. 26, 1972.
Snowfall records for January have been broken in 23 states.
Lewis County, Wash., recorded 11.5 inches of snowfall so far this January, breaking the past record of 2 inches set in January of 2011.
Some long-standing snowfall records were broken in the states of Texas and Wyoming. Midland County, Texas, has received 10.6 inches of snow as of Jan. 26. The previous record of 5.9 inches of snow was set in 1955.
Natrona County, Wyo., snowfall of 4.6 inches this January broke a 63 year record of 3 inches that had been standing since 1949.
Other areas of the U.S. have reported record-high temperatures for the month so far this January.
A 112-year record was broken in Beadle County, S.D. The record was set in January of 1900 with a high temperature of 64°F. The new record for January so far in 2012 is 65°F.
A photo of a sunset on the Oregon Coast on Jan. 6, 2012 posted by AccuWeather.com Facebook fan Sandi N.
Umatilla County, Ore., set a new record of 72°F replacing the record of 71°F set in 1935.
Twin Falls, Idaho, broke a record from 1938 of 62°F, with average temperatures for the month of January so far at 63°F.
Alexandria, La., set a new high temperature record of 93°F, breaking a record of 83°F set earlier this month.
Phillips County, Mont., also broke a record high temperature by 10°F. The record of 60°F from 1992 was broken this month with a record of 70°F.
With a few more days left in January, there could be even more records broken by the month's end.
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Feb 23, 2012; 5:10 AM ET
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South, Tennessee Valley Severe Weather Risk
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Locally severe thunderstorms will sweep through the Tennessee Valley and portions of the South.
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Misconception: Mobile Homes are Hit More by Tornadoes
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Winter Returns to the East Friday into Saturday
Feb 23, 2012; 5:07 AM ET
In a winter season that has been dominated by mild temperatures and lack of snow, the Great Lakes and the Northeast are in for a reminder that winter is not yet over.
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Northern Plains Snowstorm May be Brewing
Feb 23, 2012; 5:06 AM ET
There is some indication a storm with wind and snow may crank up affecting the northern and central Plains later this weekend.
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Snow May Reach Seattle Hills This Weekend
Feb 23, 2012; 5:05 AM ET
Snow could brush some of the hilltops around Seattle and will clog the Cascade passes this weekend.
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Another Tropical Cyclone May Target Madagascar
Feb 23, 2012; 5:02 AM ET
Tropical Cyclone Giovanna stormed ashore in eastern Madagascar at mid month, packing 120-mph top winds.
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Snowbound in. . . Africa?
Feb 23, 2012; 5:00 AM ET
Europe's extreme cold and heavy snow reached across Mediterranean waters to Africa, where severe winter weather was replicated in parts of Algeria and Tunisia.
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Tornado Season Coming Soon
Feb 23, 2012; 4:58 AM ET
The tornado frequency increases in the spring as the warm and cold seasons battle it out in the U.S.
Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 89° | Harlingen, TX |
| Low | 5° | Chama, NM |
| Precip | 2.56" | Stampede Pass, WA |
WeatherWhys®
Avalanches are caused by a number of factors. Thick layers of snow and ice of varying intensity along a mountainside are weakened by the force of gravity and changing weather conditions. At some point, this large mass of snow is released down the mountain in a form of an avalanche.
This Day In Weather History
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Rough Weather
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