Maps and Graphics:

January Most Recent 3 Months Most Recent 6 Months
Most Recent 12 Months Annual Summary for 2004 US Percent Area Very Wet/Dry/Warm/Cold

It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the National Temperature and Precipitation Maps page

For graphics covering periods other than those mentioned above or for tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for January, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page

National Overview:

January:

For additional details, see the Monthly Highlights section. For details and graphics on weather events across the U.S. and the globe go to NCDC's Global Hazards page, available on the 15th.

Monthly and Seasonal Highlights:

National:

For tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for January, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page.

  • January 2005 ranked as the 23rd warmest January in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 33.5°F (0.83°C), which was 2.5°F (1.4°C) above the long-term mean.
  • January 2005 had above average precipitation, nationally, ranking 23rd wettest.
  • November-January temperature was much above average and ranked as the 6th warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature for November-January was 37.9°F (3.3°C) which was 2.2°F (1.2°C) above the long-term mean.
  • November-January had above average precipitation, ranking 14th wettest in the last 110 years.
  • The February 2004-January 2005 temperature was much above average and ranked as the 9th warmest such period in the 1895 to present record. The preliminary nationally averaged temperature was 54.0°F (12.2°C) which was 1.2°F (0.7°C) above the long-term mean.
  • Precipitation was also much above average for February-January, ranking 2nd wettest for the last 12 months based on a record of 110 such periods.

    Regional and Statewide:

  • January 2005 temperatures ranked much above average for 2 southwestern states (UT and NM). A further 22 states in the contiguous U.S. had above average temperature and 4 states averaged below the long-term mean temperature.
  • Alaska temperatures were above average for January, with an anomaly of 3.2°F (1.8°C) above the 1971-2000 mean.
  • January was much wetter than average for 13 states and wetter than average for a further 14 states. Oregon was much drier than average with another 8 states averaging below the long term mean precipitation.
  • The 3 month period, November-January, was warmer than average for much of the nation. Only 8 states were near average and only Maine was significantly cooler than average for the most recent 3 months.
  • November-January 2005 was much wetter than average for 13 states, including Utah, which had its wettest November-January on record. Seven states were below the mean and Oregon was much drier than average.
  • February-January 2005 was warmer than average for almost the entire nation. Only 5 states in the contiguous U.S. were near average for temperature and no state was significantly cooler than average over the 12 months.
  • The last 12 months were much wetter than average for much of the nation, with Pennsylvania having its wettest February-January on record.

It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the National Temperature and Precipitation Maps page

Citing This Report

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Monthly National Climate Report for January 2005, published online February 2005, retrieved on January 22, 2025 from https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/national/200501.