January 1950: An Exercise in Perspective

Most of you are probably disappointed with this winter so far, and I can sympathize.  Compared to the memorable events of last January and early February, this year has not measured up at this point in time.  However, for all of you younger cold weather enthusiasts, be grateful that you did not have to go through January 1950.  Imagine that you were suddenly transported to Miami for a month, and you would have a similar experience.  This was a month where you could go over a week without needing as much as a light sweater.  The average high temperature was 74.4 F with an average low of 59.8 F.  The LOWEST temperature for the month was only 41 F.  Not only did this January beat the second warmest by a whopping 3.9 F, but it could also qualify as the warmest December, February, second warmest November, and third warmest March on record!

Top Ten Warmest Januaries.

The synoptic set-up was probably a southeastern winter-killing ridge with a powerful west coast trough, bringing bouts of arctic air into that region (Seattle was 17 F below average with 57.2" of snowfall for the month).  Needless to say, New Orleans did not get any snow, and I doubt there was even the minute possibility of seeing such an occurrence that month.  By the way, January 1950 had a warmer average temperature than February, March, and April of that year.

USA Temperature Anomalies for January 1950

So January 2015 might be a downer, but realize that it could have been much, much duller.  Hopefully, no cold weather fan will ever have to endure the premature spring of 1950 again.