Robert J. Renard, Volunteer Observer
Nat'l Wea Serv Climatological Station
Monterey, California 93940

General: Local January weather was well above normal in temperature, with moderate to heavy rainfall, near normal fog occurrence and near seasonal winds.

Temperature: And yet one more consecutive month with above normal temperatures -- a total of seven in all! Average of the daily highs is 61.5^oF (1.4^oF above normal), while the daily lows averaged 46.6^ooF (3.3^oF above normal). Overall, the monthly mean of 54.1^oF is 2.4^oF above normal. Thus, for the cold 1995/96 season, January 1996 is the coldest month (as it should be!), although the average high in December 1995 and January 1996 are the same, namely, 61.5^oF. Absolute high for the month, 74^oF, was observed on 12 January, while the month's low, 39^oF, was marked a few hours before sunrise on 26 January.

The 39^oF temperataure is the first reading in the 30's this cold season. 26 January is the latest date on record for a temperature below 40^oF. The previous record was in the 1983/84 winter namely 14 January 1984, when the temperature first dipped below 40^oF. A 39^oF (or lower) temperature in the thermal shelter (at the 5 ft. level) usually equates to frost at the ground. However, in this case, because of the arrival of high/middle clouds and winds up to several miles per hour late night, frost did not occur. Thus, no frost yet at this station. Average date for first frost: 1 December. Frost is still a threat until mid-March in the vicinity of the south Monterey Bay Coast, even later a few miles inland and in local valley.

Several daily temperature records were exceeded or tied in January 1996. Warm minimums: 50^oF on 2 January is a new record low for the date (topped 48^oF in 1986) and 54^oF on 16 January also established a new record low for the date (previously 52^oF in 1986). Warm maximums: 70^oF on 2 January exceeded 66^oF in 1969, while record highs on 11 and 12 January matched the existing record of 73^oF, 1986 and 74^oF, 1983, respectively.

Precipitation: A little recent history first. The 1995/96 rain year (from 1 July 1995) up to mid-January 1996 was very dismal! On 1 December 1995 only 8% of normal rainfall had been collected, improving to 41% of normal on 30 December and then falling to 31% of normal on 15 January. After that it was up and away! By the end of January, 5.02" had fallen in 13 days with measurable rainfall in a 17-day period from 15 thru 31 January. The figure is exactly one inch above the January normal of 4.02". By 6 PM 31 January 1996, the rain-year total was boosted to to 7.66" (73% of the 10.48" normal). Fresh in memory is January 1995 with an all-time monthly rainfall record of 10.61". However, the 5.02" this January is considered to be in the moderate to heavy range.

There were two days with rainfall exceeding 1" -- 1.14" in 24-hr by 6 PM 16 January and 1.13" by 6 PM 31 January. Damaging winds accompanied the heavy 16 January rain and there was high expectation of the same (and more!) on 30/31 January. That aspect of the late January wet mid-Pacific storm weakened considerably before it hit the coast. How wet? In 20 hours up to 4 PM Wednesday 31 January: 3.67" at Big Sur, 7.01" at Mining Ridge (elevation: 4700 ft.), just inland and north of Lucia and 8.42" at Three Peaks (elevation: 3350 feet), just inland and southeast of Gorda in extreme south Monterey County. (Three Peaks was also a "winner" in the 16 January storm, with 5.39" in 24 hours.)

A brief sprinkle of hail was observed around 1 PM on 21 January. It is the first hail observed at this station since March of last year.

Wind: Airport winds, in the period 6 AM to 11 PM, averaged 6.2 miles per hour (mph) in January. The recent five-year January average is 5.5 mph. Significant gusting was sporadic, and storm related in January, reaching 37 mph on 18 January. Average daily high gust in January 1996 is 19 mph, which is the same as December 1995. There were wind-caused power outages and branches/trees down, on 16 and 18 January, all damage was considered minor.

Fog: Unlike most of the months in 1995, fog was not significant in January 1996 -- eight fog days versus six normal. Much of the fog lasted only a few hours and was mainly associated with rainy periods.

Following are comparative figures from seven local observations sites: 1) the National Weather Service Climate Station (NWSCS), (elevation 385') located in the western hilly section of Monterey; 2) the National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWSFO) site (elevation 122'), located in the flat area of eastern Monterey, on the NPS Annex grounds adjacent to Airport; 3) the Naval Postgraduate School Campus (NPS), Monterey; 4) the Ft. Ord site (Ft. Ord (NPS)) (elevation 167') located just northwest of Marina Municipal Airport (formerly Fritzsche Field). This is the site of the Naval Postgraduate School's wind profiler (managed by the Department of Meteorology); 5) Site SE end of Marina, located about 2 1/2 miles ESE of Monterey Bay (elevation 80'); 6) Carmel Valley site (CV) near Village (elevation 500'); south facing slope; 37 years of record; 7) SW Salinas (SAL) vicinity of W. Blanco Rd. within 1/2 mile of S. Main St.

FOOTNOTES:

* = average hourly Airport winds in period 6 AM to 11 PM; ** = average maximum daily wind gust

observations for precipitation: ^a,^e = 6 PM; ^b,^d = midnight; ^c = 4 PM; ^f,^g = 8 AM

(Note: for sites ^f and ^g , 24-hour rainfall measured at 8 AM on first day of month counts for previous month)