December ended cooler than normal – with more snow than usual – but less overall precipitation than normal.
Clinton area weather observer Jim Blaess says the overall temperature ended at just over 24 degrees 24.6) – about two degrees below the normal (26.5) for December. He said the month had four days with zero or below weather and the normal is three days. The lowest reading was on the 19th at 13 below zero and the warmest day was the 26th when it reached 60 degrees.
Blaess reported the precipitation was 1.4 inches which is below the average of 1.82 inches.
There was 14.4 inches of snow – nearly six inches above the normal of 8.7 inches.
Included in the snowfall was 8 inches on December 4th – the 8th a largest snowfall in a 24 hour period in a December to 1893.
For January, Blaess says you can expect 1.45 inches of precipitation including 9.4 inches of snow.
There are on average five days of zero or below weather.
Blaess says the temperature remains steady over the month with an average high of 30 and a low of 15 on January 1st and by the end of the month those averages of 32 and 15.
The Clinton area weather observer said 2016 ended as the 5th warmest calendar year since 1879. The overall temperature was just over 53 degrees (53.1). The warmest year was 1921 with over 54 degrees (54.6).
The precipitation was just 42.03 inches according to Blaess. He said it was 21st highest total since 1878. The normal is just over 34 inches (34.25).
During the year – Blaess said the meteorological winter – which was December 2015 and January and February 2016 was the 8th warmest winter period and the 4th least snowiest.
March 2016 had 3 radar indicated tornadoes with at least two of those touching down in the area. Also in the month there was a hail storm that damage many cars and roofs.
In the spring period – March through May the temperature and precipitation were above normal
In the summer period Blaess reported it was the 7th wettest summer period since 1878 with 20.7 inches of precipitation. The summer period with the most precipitation was 1943 with 24.57 inches.
In the 2016 meteorological Fall of September thru November, Blaess says it was the warmest Fall period in records to 1879 with an overall temperature of about 59 degrees (58.8). He said the old record was in 1931. The normal is just over 52 degrees (52.5).
Blaess added that the period tied for the latest hard freeze. That occurred on November 26 when it was 26 and that tied 1946.
